Recently freed robber charged for bus heist

MANILA, Philippines - A convicted robber, released from prison four months ago after serving a nine-year sentence, was charged anew for robbing the passengers of a bus in Valenzuela City last month.

Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, Valenzuela City police chief, said Benito Canque, alias Arthur Geronimo, a resident of Angat, Bulacan, was charged Wednesday before the local prosecutor’s office for robbery with threats and intimidation for the July 22 heist of a Solid North passenger bus (CXP-728) along North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). He remains at large.

Canque, with five other men, allegedly robbed at least 17 passengers of the bus of cash and valuables at around 9 p.m. and escaped at the NLEX’s Bocaue exit in Bulacan. Mayor said at least two of the victims picked out Canque’s photo from the city police rogues’ gallery.

Canque was released from the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City last March after serving a sentence for his involvement in a bank robbery in Barangay Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City on June 11, 2003.