QC’s most wanted criminal arrested

A notorious highway robber/thief long considered to be Quezon City’s most wanted criminal is now behind bars.

Julito Oliquiano Jr., alias Baba, was arrested by agents of the Central Police District’s intelligence unit at EDSA and K-3rd street in Barangay Kamuning on Nov. 2 after a long hunt.

Known as the leader of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang, Oliquiano is believed to be responsible for masterminding a series of FX taxi, jeepney and bus holdups along the stretch of EDSA and adjacent areas since late last year.

His trail of criminal activities has left several people, two of them policemen, dead.

One of his victims, PO3 Henry Ubalde, used to work as close-in security aide of Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina. Ubalde was riding a jeepney home on June 26 when Oliquiano and his gang robbed him and other passengers. He engaged the thieves in a shootout and got killed.

Another victim – police Inspector Jovencio Torres, who was assigned at the National Police Commission main office – died when Oliquiano allegedly shot him inside an FX taxi on Aug. 17 along EDSA. Torres was on his way home to Meycauayan, Bulacan when he fell prey to the robbers.

Oliquiano was arrested last month for minor offenses and possession of a deadly weapon. He spent only a brief time in jail after he misled police by using a false name.

Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Tor, head of the Quezon City police, said Oliquiano will be subjected to interrogation to find out the degree of his participation in the string of robberies in the city in recent months.

"We are investigating his connection with a number of unsolved killings along Quezon Avenue, North Avenue and the stretch of Elliptical Road," he said. — Christina Mendez