Cops arrest 3 SM robbery suspects

The Central Police District (CPD) announced yesterday a breakthrough in the Oct. 6 robberies at SM North Edsa and the Gemini Exchange Center in Quezon City after three suspected holdup men arrested in Pasig for payroll robbery were found to be the same men who carried out the heists that resulted in the death of a security guard.

CPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Tor identified the suspects as Antonio Quimno, 41, a driver and resident of Santolan, Pasig; Jose Balausa, 44 of Fairview; and Alejandro Sorila Jr. 28, of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

He said the three were positively identified in a police lineup arranged by the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU).

Tor said witnesses to the daylight robbery holdup positively identified the three as among the eight-man gang which swooped down on the mall, killed security guard Antonio Rebato and carted away cash and other valuables from three jewelry stores.

Police reports said the suspects were earlier arrested by elements of the Pasig City police who responded to a payroll robbery in Santolan. Follow-up investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to the same group which carried out the twin robberies in Quezon City, investigators said.

No bail has been recommended for the release of the suspects during the inquest of their robbery with homicides cases.

Crack police operative are still hot on the trail of the other suspects.

Tor said with the arrest of the suspects, he looks forward to a reduction of organized criminal activities, particularly robbery incidents.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. lauded the CPD for the early solution of the robbery cases. – Perseus Echeminada