'Gapos gang' members nabbed in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested Monday four members of the dreaded “Gapos gang,” tagged as responsible for a series of robbery incidents in Laguna.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., appealed to robbery victims to surface and identify the suspects, Dave Ragas, 27; Rommel Palma, 31; Richard Pasamba, 28; and Adan Ocampo, 29; so additional charges would be filed against them.

“We are asking their other victims to come out and file charges against them so they would find it hard to post bail and strike again,” said Pagdilao.

In his report to Pagdilao, Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police provincial director said Ragas and Palma were arrested hours after they robbed a family in Barangay Abo in Nagcarlan town at about 8 p.m. Monday.

Armed with short firearms, the suspects forcibly entered the house of couple Eladio Doria, 50, and wife, Librada, 44 in Nagcarlan town.

At gunpoint, the suspects hogtied the Librada couple and their children, Elvie, 16; Ladylene, 14; and son, John Paul, 11; and searched the premises for valuables before fleeing.

After receiving the robbery report, elements of the Nagcarlan police station, conducted follow-up operations and cornered Ragas and Palma along Barangay Malaya hours later.

Confiscated from them were a .38 caliber revolver, a 357 Magnum revolver and a .45 caliber automatic pistol with magazines and ammunitions.

Cruz said his men also seized from the suspects a red and black Honda motorcycle (3688), a black and blue Honda motorcycle with lost plate markings, and cash money amounting to P1,670, a cellphone, two necklaces, a bracelet and a ring. – With Ed Amoroso