7 alleged robbers nabbed in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - Seven robbery suspects, including the group’s alleged leader, were arrested in Caloocan City at past midnight yesterday.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police investigation chief, said Gilbert Sacil, 24; Rommel Blanchita, 20; James Acosta, 20; Manuel Andale, 28; Jeff Kinsley Corre, 18, and two minors were arrested in Bagong Barrio at about 12:30 a.m.

“The suspects are Commando gang members and Gilbert (Sacil), the group’s alleged leader, has a warrant of arrest for murder,” Soriano told The STAR.

Soriano said at around midnight, a passenger jeepney passed by a “malfunctioning” tricycle (PS-9603) with five passengers in the middle of Nangka Road.

As the jeepney stopped, the tricycle’s passengers – armed with handguns and knives – boarded the vehicle and robbed the passengers of cash and valuables. The suspects returned to the tricycle and sped away.

The victims sought the help of Caloocan City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos. A team, led by Soriano, was dispatched to track down the suspects and about 30 minutes later they spotted the tricycle at the corner of De Jesus and Panday Pira streets in Bagong Barrio.

The suspects ran in different directions as the police officers approached them. Five of the robbers, including the boys aged 14 and 16, were immediately arrested. Two others, Sacil and Acosta, shot at the pursuing lawmen but were later cornered.

Soriano said they failed to recover any gun from the suspects but they recovered two mobile phones, around P3,000, a bag containing documents belonging to Maria Venice Mata and drug paraphernalia.

Soriano said Sacil’s group operates in the Monumento area and along the MacArthur Highway at the boundary of Malabon and Caloocan, preying on commuters.