Taft robbery gang busted

Three young men and an older homosexual, their alleged leader, were nabbed in their hideout after they robbed a Manila police official on board a passenger jeepney in Ermita, Manila yesterday morning.

The suspects were identified as Benjamin Caringal, 18, of 1266 Dosepic st., Paco and Rolando Yango, 20, of 1398 Torcillo st., Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City, both members of Bahala na Gang; Mario Santos, 18, of 1064 Cabildo st., Intramuros; and Jonel Ilustre, 34, of 542 Cabildo st., Intramuros.

Police said the group was responsible for holdups on passenger jeepneys plying the Taft Avenue route.

Inspector Julian Olonan, commander of the night platoon of the Western Police District-Station 8 in Sta. Mesa, was one of the passengers of a Baclaran-bound passenger jeepney when the suspects announced the heist at about 7 a.m. as the vehicle approached the National Museum building along Taft Avenue. Olonan, who was in civilian clothes, was on his way to the Ospital ng Maynila.

Armed with fan knives, the suspects divested the passengers of their belongings while Olonan was ordered to hand over his cellular phone, diver’s wristwatch and wallet containing P1,300. In their haste, the suspects failed to notice the police inspector’s gun tucked in his waist.

When the suspects got off the jeepney, Olonan drew his firearm and ordered the suspects to stop in their tracks. Seeing the gun, the suspects scampered in different directions. Olonan chased Ilustre and caught him.

After interrogation, Ilustre decided to lead police to the gang’s hideout on Cabildo street in Intramuros, Manila. – Nestor Etolle