PAOCTF agents linked to ‘Martilyo’ robberies

Police are investigating former agents of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) who were linked to the "Martilyo Gang" which allegedly carted away about P3.3 million worth of jewelry in at least five pawnshop robberies in Metro Manila.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Chief Superintendent Nestorio Gualberto refused to identify the PAOCTF agents but said they were implicated by five members of the gang who were nabbed recently.

The Martilyo Gang is allegedly behind the bloody robberies at the Gotesco Mall in Caloocan City on April 29 and the Farmer’s Plaza in Cubao on May 6.

Combined agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PNP Intelligence Group and the CIDG presented four of the five suspects yesterday after Caloocan City police arrested the first suspect last week.

The NBI said it had been building up intelligence on the case through its Batangas regional office.

The four suspects were identified as Maguindanao-native Marlon Panindig, 23, of Globo de Oro in Quiapo, Manila; Wahid Mangodal alias "Patrick;" Tong Sabdilla, alias Bukniks, 28, of North Cotabato and Junidel Andatuan, alias Kalbo, of Pikit, Cotabato.

Police seized from the suspects several pieces of jewelry, pawnshop tickets, handguns and grenades during the separate raids in their lairs in Metro Manila.

They were presented to media along with Aratuc Colintang, who was arrested shortly after the Gotesco Mall incident last week by Caloocan City police under Superintendent Banjardi Mantele.

PNP Intelligence Group chief Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya said the PNP is preparing the counter measures against the remaining members of the group.

"We would like to forewarn the public," Berroya said. "Based on their own revelation, they will stage another one either at Muñoz mall in Quezon City or the Divisoria Mall by Sunday."

Police said they gathered as much evidence after questioning Panindig who is being eyed as a state witness.

Nine gang members, armed with three automatic pistols, were involved in the Farmer’s Plaza robbery where they employ their usual modus operandi of using a hammer to break the display cabinets of their target pawnhops, Panindi said.

To cover up their escape, the gang members would lob a hand grenade that was provided by a PAOCTF civilian agent based in Mindanao, he added.

The gang carted away an estimated P1.5 million from Ever Gotesco and Farmer’s Plaza robberies.

Police said the group was also responsible for the pawnshop robbery, amounting to P1 million worth of jewelry, near the Baclaran light railway transit station on August last year.

In September last year, the group was also responsible for the P800,000 Divisoria Mall robbery, Panindig said.

Panindig identified a certain "Mike" who provided the .38-caliber pistol that wounded a passer-by while a certain "Boniks" lobbed the grenade to cover up their escape.

Panindig also confessed that the Tutuban Mall robbery last Dec. , when the gang carted away some P1 million in jewelry, was also the gang’s handiwork.