7-11 rob suspects remain elusive

MANILA, Philippines - The four members of “Ozamis Gang” allegedly responsible for the series of LBC and 7-11 convenience store robberies in Metro Manila escaped a police dragnet in Quezon City and are now believed hiding in Cavite, police said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Ferjen Torred, head of the Parañaque police’s intelligence unit, told The STAR they are still verifying information that the suspects are holed up in Bacoor, Paliparan or Dasmariñas, in Cavite.

“We are checking these reports. The Ozamis group is not likely to stay long in one place, that’s why we are very careful with our follow-up operations,” he said.

Policemen were preparing to storm the suspects’ lair in Tandang Sora, Quezon City after an asset informed them of the presence of the suspects in the area.

“However, the suspects escaped after the Parañaque police came out with their names and pictures on TV. Now the police is back to square one but they are following up leads,” the source said.

Torred identified the suspects as Wilfredo Panogalinga Jr. alias “Kulot,” Harry Alfeche Sampiloc, Mario Elumbaga and Reymar Paran.

Panogalinga, who was sentenced to six years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms, poked his gun at the cashier of 7-11 Leveriza branch on Aug. 20 and announced the heist.

Sampiloc, Elumbaga and Paran were the ones seen in the video grab from a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage released by the police and came out in The STAR on Sept. 3.

The four suspects were among the 12 inmates who bolted the Ozamis City Jail last July 28.

They were also tagged in the robberies at the LBC branches in Bacoor, Cavite; Quirino, Manila; and Tambo in Parañaque City.