MANILA, Philippines - Is there a new group of thieves, burglars, and robbers – all under 30 years old and bearing teardrop tattoos near their eyes – operating in northern Metro Manila?
About five of them were nabbed for separate theft and burglary incidents in Valenzuela City last week alone. Three of them were identified as Benjie Castro, 20; Argen Ortiz, 20; and a 17-year-old boy.
Castro, 20, was arrested by Police Officer 3 Roberto Santillan for stealing from a barangay councilman and an employee of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC).
Ortiz and the teenager were nabbed by Police Officers 1 Regie Buencamino and Anthony Marquez for breaking into a house in Viente Reales last Wednesday.
One of Castro’s victims, Donna Decano of the Manila MTC, told police she was asleep when he broke into her house and stole her gadgets amounting to about P200,000 on May 19.
“She woke up while he was in the house. She remembered the tattoo on his face,†Santillan told The STAR.
Castro’s second victim was councilman Jojit Sanchez of Barangay Viente Reales. He accused the suspect of stealing his helmet last May 20. Sanchez chased Castro but failed to catch him.
“Just like (Decano), he recognized the suspect by the tattoo on his face,†Santillan said.
Castro refused to give his real name and denied stealing from Decano and Sanchez.
Police files showed Castro’s real name and his alleged involvement in robberies and thefts in the city. A cell phone with Decano’s photo was also recovered from him.
Last April, Rommel Matias, 32, was beaten and robbed in Monumento, Caloocan by a tricycle driver who had three teardrop tattoos below his eye. He lost an iPhone, a gold necklace, and P23,000.
‘Tears’ shed in jail
Police officers and jail officers interviewed by The STAR said the “Teardrops†gang’s members are thieves and robbers who became friends while in jail and decided to form a new group.
“The teardrops became their mark,†Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, head investigator of the Caloocan police, said.
Once free, the group used the tattoo to identify their members, according to Valenzuela City police chief Senior Superintendent Eric Armamento.
“They help each other. They borrow cars, guns, weapons from each other,†he said.
Armamento said the group has been striking fear for nearly two years.
“We have been monitoring them for two years. They are included in our order of battle,†he said.
Armamento said the Teardrops gang has also struck in Meycauayan, Bulacan.
“We studied their modus operandi. They often leave eat food in their victims’ houses or steal women’s underwear. Sometimes they also hogtie the occupants of the house,†Armamento said.