Rob group eyed in violent Cubao heist

MANILA, Philippines - A robbery group known for daring heists and which had been accused of victimizing a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official last year is now being eyed in the violent heist over the weekend in Cubao.

This was after Ephraim John Evangelista, alias Paeng, was tagged by witnesses in the robbery at the house and office of fish dealer Cesar Sta. Ana on Saturday, Inspector Alan dela Cruz told The STAR.

Evangelista is reported to be a member of a gang allegedly led by Resty Branzuela alias Gaga.

Dela Cruz, who heads the Quezon City Police District’s theft and robbery investigation section, said Evangelista was allegedly among the five men who staged the robbery along 8th Avenue in Barangay Soccoro.

Based on police records, Evangelista was among those identified in the heist at First Allied Emporium Jewelry store at Farmers Plaza in February this year.

Evangelista, Edcen Ong, Edwin Gamali and Michael de Guzman allegedly smashed the glass display of the jewelry store. Security guards and a patrolling policeman shot at the suspects, who sped away on motorcycles.

Evangelista, Raul Hunat, John Mark Tamalla, Jackylene Cleto and Jomel Tamalla were arrested in July last year after the robbery at the house of BOC official Julito Doria.

The suspects allegedly took from Doria’s house P1.4 million in cash and valuables, as well as the family’s pet dog, a Shih Tzu.

Evangelista had apparently posted bail since then and was able to participate in the two recent robberies in Cubao, Dela Cruz said.

During the robbery on Saturday, four men, allegedly including Evangelista, barged into the house and office of Sta. Ana, taking away cash worth P200,000 and cell phones.

As they were fleeing, one of the suspects was shot and killed by responding policemen. The surviving suspects then boarded a van driven by a fifth cohort and fled, continuously firing shots, wounding more people on the road.