Cops seek help from rob victims

MANILA, Philippines - Police asked robbery victims yesterday to come out and identify Mandaluyong’s public enemy No. 1 and his two accomplices, who were arrested Thursday.

Superintendent Remus Medina, Eastern Police District (EPD) intelligence chief, said Gian Christian Añover, Alvin Katipunan, 21, and Roel Elago, 27, will be charged with various crimes, including robbery, in court today.

“We wanted more robbery complainants to show up and identify them so we could file additional charges and for them to rot in jail,” he said.

Añover, listed as Mandaluyong’s public enemy No. 1; Katipunan and Elago are behind robberies on buses and the streets in Mandaluyong and in  neighboring San Juan, Pasig, Makati and Manila, he added.

An informant led Inspector Herculano Magno, Mandaluyong police anti-vice unit, and his men to the suspects’ hideout in Southville, Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal about 2 p.m. Thursday.

The suspects did not resist arrest and yielded a knife and six cellular phones, believed part of their loot.

Magno and his men were carrying several arrest warrants against the suspects for robbery, illegal possession of deadly weapons, trespass to dwelling, and other crimes.

Medina said Añover and his accomplices verbally admitted being involved in robberies in Mandaluyong and neighboring cities.

Añover’s wife accompanied him and his gang to the Mandaluyong police headquarters where they are  detained.