3 Pandacan robbery gang members arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested over the weekend three robbery gang members who prey on commuters and motorists along Quirino Avenue in Pandacan, Manila.

Suspects Biboy Sagun, 20, the alleged leader of the “Biboy Gang;” Martin Nievera, 22; and Alexis Nobleza, 18, were presented yesterday to their latest known victim, Erlinda Tactaquin, 54, an employee of the Department of Public Services of the Manila City Hall.

Tactaquin, who remains confined at the Ospital ng Maynila, said Sagun allegedly shot her when she refused to hand over her bag when the three men robbed her as she passed Quirino Avenue before dawn on April 16.

She said the suspects took her bag and two cell phones.

The five-member “Biboy Gang” has been tagged in a series of robberies among commuters and motorists passing Quirino Avenue, according to Pandacan police station chief Superintendent Abad Osit.

The group also robbed a burger stand near a gasoline station along Quirino Avenue last April 6, taking P5,000 as well as hotdog products, soft drinks and cigarettes, Osit said.

The first one arrested was Sagun, who reportedly eluded police dragnets several times in the past and even figured in a shootout with the arresting policemen sometime last month. “He was wounded in that encounter and laid low in the province while nursing his wound. He resumed his criminal activities after regaining strength,” Osit said.

During interrogation, Sagun led police to the group’s hideout, resulting in the arrest of Nievera and Nobleza. Two other gang members, known as “Enrile” and “Kulit,” escaped and are the subjects of a police manhunt, according to Osit.

The suspects admitted sniffing model airplane glue before staging robberies, saying they are prepared to inflict harm on anybody who fights them off.

The suspects are facing charges of robbery with frustrated homicide.