5 'Ativan Gang' members caught

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Police District (MPD) arrested five members of the “Ativan Gang” who allegedly prey on foreign tourists, robbing them after lacing their food and drink with a sleep-inducing drug.

Chief Inspectors Edgardo Carpio and Mario Magno, heads of the MPD’s theft and robbery and warrant section, respectively, combined their teams to arrest the suspects in Tarlac City.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay identified the arrested suspects as Jay Ancheta, 32, and Joel Eric Avendaño, both of Caloocan City; Joseph Espiritu, 36, of Tondo; Alex Galvez, 54, of Bulacan; and Lampel Cortez, 23, of Quezon City. The gang is named after a brand of anti-anxiety drug.

The operation was launched upon the request of the United States embassy’s diplomatic security and investigative unit chief Raymond Solidum after a number of American tourists have fallen victim to the gang.

Based on the US embassy’s record, at least five Americans have been victimized by the gang in a 10-month period.

The gang’s latest victim, Julia Soare, a teacher from Pennsylvania, USA, sent photos of the suspects during her stay with the gang, in the hope that the pictures may prove useful in the investigation of the US embassy. According to Soare, the suspects deleted the photos in her cellular phone, not aware that the images were saved in the phone’s memory card.

According to Carpio, the gang members befriended Soare while she was touring the National Museum in Ermita, Manila on June 13. The suspects convinced Soare to travel with them to Banaue in Mountain Province.

They treated her to food and drink in Tarlac City. She passed out and when she woke up, she found the suspects had taken her $500 and P6,000.

The investigation was stalled until Carpio noticed the conduction sticker of the suspects’ vehicle in photographs taken by Soare.

After verification from the Land Transportation Office, police found out the owner of the vehicle, resulting in the arrest of Ancheta, who drove the victim and his gang members to Tarlac City.

Ancheta led police to other gang members. During tactical interrogation, the gang pointed to a certain “Neneth Paa” as the group’s financier. They also admitted having drugged and robbed at least 10 Americans. One of the suspects also admitted raping one of the victims, according to Carpio.

Initial charges of theft through drugging will be filed against the suspects.

The US embassy was notified of the suspects’ arrest. Soare, who is now in South Korea, had sent notice that she will return to the Philippines to personally file charges against the suspects.