4 suspects in P7.2-M Batangas heist nabbed; P230,000 recovered

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — A notorious syndicate involved in highway robbery in Southern Tagalog was believed neutralized after police arrested its leader and three members during a lightning raid on their hideout in Batangas.

Chief Superintendent Domingo A. Reyes, Jr., Southern Tagalog police director, identified the arrested suspects as Petronio de Roxas, gang leader and resident of Bauan, Batangas; and members Edelito Beloso alias Ever of Mabini, Batangas; Bernardo Atienza of Barangay Malaking Pulo, Tanauan City; and Virgilio Francisco of Barangay Talage East, Mabini, Batangas.

The suspects were tagged as members of a 16-man armed group that fatally shot Celso Aquino, 58, after robbing him of about P7.2 million while he was alighting from his car near his residence in Malinis, Lemery, Batangas on Nov. 5.

Another suspect, Virgilio Francisco of Mabini, Batangas, voluntarily surrendered and yielded P180,000, believed to be part of the loot, to the operating teams.

Recovered from Beloso’s hideout were P50,000 believed part of the loot; a .45 cal. pistol; and several rounds of ammunition.

Investigation showed that at about 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, about 16 armed men suddenly accosted Aquino, who was about to alight from his car in front of his house.

At gunpoint, the group took two bags containing P7.2 million from Aquino’s car, shot Aquino and then fled.

But before Aquino died, he was able to shoot one of the robbers identified as Roberto Reyes. Reyes identified his cohorts before he died in a hospital in Calamba City.

A case of robbery with homecide was filed against the arrested suspects and 11 others in the Agoncillo-Lemery municipal trial court. — Rene Alviar, Ed Amoroso