Rob, kidnap suspects fall in Navotas

Central Police District intelligence operatives raided over the weekend a safe house in Navotas and arrested a couple suspected to be the brains of the series of armed robberies of Metro drug stores and kidnapping of foreign nationals in Metro Manila.

In a report to CPD director, Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Tor, the CPD district intelligence unit reported the arrest of the suspects, Antonio Tulipas, 26, a native of Catarman, Samar and Gina Gidoc, 28 native of Bulan, Sorsogon.

The report said intelligence operatives, after an extensive case buildup and surveillance, pinpointed the gang’s hideout at 86 Tanza St., Navotas, Metro Manila, where they pounced on the suspects.

The couple was taken into custody as the principal suspects in the Aug. 26 robbery of Mercury drugs store branches at Mayon and Roces Streets in Quezon City and the heist last Sept. 16 of another branch along Abad Santos street in Manila.

The suspects were also tagged as the main suspects in the kidnap for ransom cases of Benedict Cheun, a Singaporean, and Jolly Chen, a Hong Kong national who was abducted along Jose Abad Santos street, Manila and released after P7 million was paid.

Police also seized a .45 caliber pistol and an Armalite rifle and several rounds of ammunition. Follow up operations are underway to track down other members of the gang.

Meanwhile, three men robbed a "lechon manok" outlet a stone’s throw away from police headquarters in Mandaluyong City at dawn yesterday and made off with P25,000. – Perseus Echeminada and Sheila Crisostomo