Alvin Flores' cellular phone subjected to forensic tests

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) disclosed yesterday that forensic tests are being conducted on the cellular telephone that was recovered from the slain leader of the Alvin Flores Gang to identify the other members of the robbery syndicate.

Lawyer Roel Bolivar, chief of the NBI Reaction, Arrest and Interdiction Division (RAID), told reporters that the cell phone of gang leader Alvin Flores was turned over to the NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division (AFCCD) for examination.

“The conduct of forensic examination is necessary to check on the text messages and call registry to establish the group’s contacts,” Bolivar told reporters.

Palmer Mallari, executive officer of NBI-AFFCD, said the forensics tests on the cell phone had started and they hope to finish the tests soon.

The NBI had launched manhunt operations for Flores’ sister Merlinda, alias Mailyn Villamor, and other remaining gang members including a certain JR Saldivar, an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA).

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said agents of the bureau and the Philippine National Police (PNP) raided the hideout of the gang in Plaridel, Bulacan last Friday afternoon and seized a cache of firearms, ammunitions and other paraphernalia used by the robbers in the Greenbelt 5 heist.

Lawyer Ruel Lasala, NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Services, said 30 NBI agents backed by police raided a bungalow on Jupiter St., Juliet Rocka Village, Barangay Tabang in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Flores’ sister Merlinda was renting the house from owner Arlene Miron.

Merlinda used the name Mailyn Villamor to rent the place last October.

Judge Basilio Gabo Jr. of Branch 11, Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Malolos, Bulacan issued a search warrant before the NBI agents conducted the raid.

The raiding team also seized uniforms with labels “Pulis,” “Bitag” and “Bomb Squad.” Also seized were helmets, bulletproof vests, and tactical shoes, and sets of car plates.

Mantaring said the car plates recovered from the Bulacan hideout were used in the robberies at Waltermart in Quezon City, San Jose Del Monte in Quezon City, and Greenbelt Mall in Makati.

“Our investigation is continuing to identify the owners of the vehicles on which these plate numbers were used.