Village guards called him Bombay

Former senator Gregorio Honasan evaded the long arm of the law for months by dressing up in traditional Indian attire, complete with turban and glasses.

For security guards of the upscale Green Meadows subdivision in Barangay Ugong Norte, Quezon City, the man they called "Bombay" seemed like an ordinary Indian businessman.

But Bombay turned out to be one of the country’s most wanted fugitives for allegedly leading coups against the Arroyo administration.

"Security guards in the village called him Bombay," Quentin Ramos, barangay Ugong Norte executive officer told The STAR.

Ramos said Honasan wore eyeglasses and a turban while going in and out of the heavily guarded subdivision usually during nighttime.

Aside from Green Meadows, other exclusive villages and condominiums in the barangay Ugong Norte are Corinthian Garden, Acropolis and a portion of Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas Center.

He said because of tight security implemented in the villages in the barangay, security guards often peek at the passengers of cars going in and out of the area.

As early as 2 p.m. Tuesday barangay watchmen also noticed the presence of intelligence operatives casing the subdivisions inside the barangay.

Ramos said it was only yesterday that security guards knew the man they called Bombay was actually the former senator who carried a P5-million reward for his capture.

A source at the Quezon City police intelligence said that they had been receiving reports about sightings of Honasan in posh subdivisions in Quezon City.

Follow-up operations however yielded negative reports – that is, until yesterday.