13 ‘Martilyo’ suspects fall in Taguig

Thirteen more alleged members of the dreaded "Martilyo Gang," believed behind the rash of pawnshop and other big-time robberies in Metro Manila the past few days, were arrested Friday during a police operation in Taguig.

Three of those arrested were positively identified as among those involved in the pawnshop robbery at the Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City last May 6, said Superintendent Ronelo Navarro, head of the Regional Mobile Group of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).

Arrested were Jonariz Sumandal, 21; Muhammad Manibpel, 41; Muhammad Manipes, 21; Sulaiman Tamian, 36; Satid Lakim, 29; Munib Sonmy, 33; Kinny Lawan, 27; Danny Mudjol, 27; Armando Ebos Latsikan, 27; Muhamad Mangoda, 30; Joeven Upam, 28; Allan Angas, 27; and Suharto Ulab, 39; natives of Maguindanao and South Cotabato.

Mudjol yielded an unlicensed caliber .38 revolver, which he claimed was intended for self-defense.

The arrest of the suspects came after Navarro was tipped-off at about 1 p.m. Friday of the presence of the suspects in the P.5 million robbery at the drugstore owned by the family of Chief Superintendent Arturo Alit, head of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Maharlika Village, Taguig.

In that robbery last May 6, the suspects shot dead the drugstore manager, Gilbert Cinco, grabbed a bag containing the money and divested their victim of his wallet and personal belongings, before escaping.

Upon receipt of the report, Navarro formed a 30-man heavily-armed raiding team led by Senior Inspector Cornelio Castillo and dispatched them to the area, to effect the arrest of the suspects.

Upon seeing the approaching lawmen, the suspects scampered inside the house at Block 19, Lot 19 and Area 20 of Maharlika VIllage. However, Castillo’s men gave chase and cornered them.

Castillo said Upam and Latsikan were positively identified by witnesses in the Alit drugstore robbery. Both denied the charges.

While the suspects’ were under intense tactical interrogation, witnesses in the Farmers Plaza robbery, accompanied by police investigators from the Central Police District arrived and identified Upam, Lawan and Mangoda as among the suspects.

The arrest of the 13 suspects brought to 18 the number of Martilyo Gang members accounted for since the police cracked down on them right after the Farmers Plaza robbery last week. Four of them were presented to the media by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza in Camp Crame Thursday.

Navarro said they are still determining whether the arrested suspects were also involved in the robbery at the Gotesco Mall in Caloocan City last April 29 and other robberies in Metro Manila the past months.

Mangoda and Lawan were turned over yesterday to CPD investigators while Upam and the other suspects remained in the custody of the RMG in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.