4 holdup suspects nabbed in Valenzuela

Valenzuela police collared four of five suspects who robbed an overseas employment office in Valenzuela City last Friday after a running gun battle.

City police chief Superintendent Nemesio Neron identified the arrested suspects as Danilo Santos, 29; Rick Janabi, 30; Ruben Ullin, 21; and their alleged leader Edwin Cui, 25, all natives of Samar with no permanent addresses.

Neron said his men are still hunting down a cohort who escaped, identified as "Jess". The latter escaped with the P180,000 loot taken from the Filipiniana Manpower Specialists at the Santiago Building on Maysan Road, Valenzuela City.

Neron said PO2 Alex Diocales, a member of the local Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), was treated at the Fatima Hospital for two gunshot wounds in the thigh and has been declared out of danger.

Prior to the heist, the suspects entered the agency owned by Rosalina Villafuerte, 35, at around 11:35 a.m. Saturday, posing as job applicants.

As soon as they were inside, the suspects, armed with handguns and a grenade, grabbed the agency’s paymaster, Arthur Ubaldo, and took P180,000 in cash from him.

As the suspects fled in a getaway vehicle, Villafuerte quickly called Neron who immediately alerted his men. The police soon spotted the suspects and a chase ensued. Neron said the suspects began shooting at the pursuing policemen who did not fire back, fearing that innocent people could be hit in the crossfire.

Neron’s men doggedly trailed the suspects who later sought refuge at the house of Cui’s father in Area 1, Family Compound in Karuhatan where they were cornered. "Jess" eluded arrest and escaped with the loot. – Jerry Botial