Man tagged in 10 bank heists arrested

MANILA, Philippines - The tattoos on his chest and left arm gave away a man police believe has been involved in at least 10 bank robberies as an alleged member of the Ampang-Colangco-Ozamis robbery group since 2002.

Metro police chief Director Roberto Rosales said Felimon Taghoy uses various aliases like Felimon Colangco, Francisco Taghoy and Emong for him to easily post bail.

In the presence of Rosales, Taghoy showed to gathered mediamen his tattoos he claimed were done “just for thrills.”

“I’m not a robber as they claimed,” he told The Star.

However, Rosales said they have informants testifying that Taghoy reportedly participated in the robberies at the Land Bank branch on West Avenue in January 2008; involving a Banco de Oro armored van in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City in June 2007; BDO branch in San Fernando, Pampanga in February 2005; Country Rural Bank of Taguig City, BDO armored van in SM North EDSA, Quezon City, and Premier Bank in Las Pinas City in 2004; BPI Family Bank in Molino, Bacoor, Cavite; Asia Trust Bank in Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Quezon City and Prudential Bank branch in EVACOM, Parañaque City in 2003 and Asia Trust in Ever Gotesco in 2002.

Rosales directed Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran, intelligence chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), to coordinate with other police units in Metro Manila and the provinces to dig up other cases in which Taghoy may have participated.

“We have information that he is also involved in payroll and bank client robberies and pawnshop robbery. We must gather all cases against him so he could not post bail and join his group in staging future robberies,” said Rosales.

A team of NCRPO and Cavite policemen, armed with arrest warrants for robbery and theft, arrested Taghoy last Feb. 18 in Bacoor, Cavite, where he has been staying for several years.

Taghoy initially identified himself as Francisco Taghoy to the team headed by Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the NCRPO’s Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit (RPIOU).

However, an informant identified Taghoy based on the tattoos on his chest and left arm.

According to Beltran, Taghoy said he had been meeting with other members of the Ampang-Colangco group and the remnants of the Alvin Flores robbery group to stage another heist in Metro Manila.

“They have been recruiting security guards of the banks and establishments they are targeting and have been casing other potential targets,” he said.

Rosales said three of the reported Ampang-Colangco robbery gang members – Alfredo Conde alias Junjun Dako; Pamela Gio; and Yukyok Roquero – were monitored casing a bank in Makati City recently.

‘We were not able to arrest them because it took us a longer time to validate the information. But what we are very sure is they are out to stage another heist in Metro Manila,” said Rosales as he directed his five police districts to take measures to thwart the gang’s robbery plan.