Robbery gang busted in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - Police busted a robbery gang with the arrest of the group’s six members, including their alleged leader, during operations in Caloocan City on Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Jude Wilson Santos, Caloocan City police chief, identified the suspects as Rey Gonzales, 43, the group’s alleged leader; Beth Blanco, 50, tagged as the gang’s financier and resident of Sampaloc, Manila; Alexander Alvarez, 40, resident of 1st Avenue, Caloocan; Jose Mendoza, 41, resident of Caloocan City; Renato de Guzman, 32, resident of Barangay Manresa, Quezon City; and Alvin John Pozon Jr., 31.

The suspects were charged with highway robbery, serious illegal detention, illegal possession of firearms and deadly weapons and possession of illegal drugs.

Santos said the group operates along the whole stretch of Rizal Avenue Extension and EDSA in Caloocan up to Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

He said his men confiscated from the suspects a hand grenade, a 9mm pistol with nine bullets, a homemade pistol with four bullets for a 12-gauge shotgun, three knives, two ladies’ bags, an iPod and two stolen cell phones.

Several sachets of shabu were also found in the suspects’ possession.

Police impounded a passenger jeepney (PVJ-940), plying Libertad, Pasay City to MCU in Caloocan City, which is reportedly used by the group in their illegal activity.

Caloocan City police investigation chief, Inspector Rodrigo Soriano said the jeepney figured in at least 10 robbery-holdup incidents in the past three weeks.