Cops bust EDSA traffic robbery gang

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested Sunday three alleged masterminds of a robbery gang using minors to rob vehicles during heavy traffic along EDSA.

Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun, Mandaluyong City police chief, said the syndicate has at least 20 minors under its control but only three of them were taken into custody, along with the suspected masterminds, during a raid on their safehouse in Barangay Addition Hills.

He said alleged gang leaders Rodolfo Repolyo Jr., 21; Gerry Cordero, alias Junior; and Enrique Fajardo, 22, belong to the Sputnik robbery gang and are facing various cases in court.

The arrests came after their latest victim, Jesus Palmos of the European Commission, filed a complaint that several teenagers robbed him of his belongings when his vehicle came to a stop at the height of heavy traffic along EDSA.

Police said one of the teenagers sat on the hood of Palmos’ vehicle, prompting him to disembark to shoo the boy away. Another teenager entered his vehicle and took away his personal belongings, Palmos said.

A police team headed by Chief Inspector Joselito Sta. Maria, chief of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Mandaluyong City police, arrested two members of the syndicate – a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl – in the act of robbing the passengers of a taxi. During tactical interrogation, the teens revealed their hideout.

According to the arrested minors, they turn over to the three suspects all their loot from robbing at least two vehicles along EDSA each day and get only 20 percent of the proceeds.

The three suspects chose to remain silent on the allegations against them.

De Sagun said the arrested minors will be turned over to the local office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development while they are still preparing charges to be filed against the three suspects.