Suspects in Cubao jewelry shop robbery identified

MANILA, Philippines - A group of suspects linked to a robbery at the house of a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official last year has been implicated in a jewelry shop heist in Cubao, Quezon City last week.

Sources said Ephraim John Evangelista, Edcen Ong, Edwin Gamali and Michael de Guzman had been tagged in the robbery at First Allied Emporium Jewelry store at Farmers Plaza on Tuesday morning.

The Quezon City Police District is preparing a robbery case against the suspects.

Evangelista was among five men arrested in July last year for the heist at the house of BOC official Julito Doria, during which P1.4 million in cash and valuables, as well as the family’s Shih Tzu, was taken.

Evangelista had apparently posted bail since his last arrest as he was identified by a witness as one of the five men who robbed the jewelry store in Cubao.

De Guzman was tagged by employees and security guards through the police rogues’ gallery as the one who barged into the store. Witnesses said Evangelista, Ong and Gamali were the lookout and drivers of two motorcycles used in the heist.

Three men barged into the store, according to investigators. Two of the men used their guns to smash the glass display before running off to cohorts on two motorcycles.

Security guards shot at the fleeing robbers but missed. A patrolling policeman shot at and was believed to have hit one of the robbers.

Evangelista, Raul Hunat, John Mark Tamalla, Jackylene Cleto and Jomel Tamalla were arrested in July last year after the robbery at Doria’s house in April. 

They were caught after victimizing Doria’s staff in a separate heist in July. 

Police tagged Resty Branzuela, alias Gaga, as the one who masterminded the group’s operation. He remains at large.