Thieves with P1-M worth of jewelry busted by cops

Eight suspected members of a "Bolt Cutter" theft gang who broke into a Cavite pawnshop were arrested by Manila police early yesterday morning after they entered a one-way street while on board a passenger jeepney in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Arrested by elements of the Sta. Cruz police station were Reynaldo Bestinpo, 40, of Sta. Maria, Pangasinan; Eduardo Noligan, 32, of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur; Roy Seles, 21, of Pakak-Pakak, Pangasinan; Marvin Valdez, 24, of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur; Rudy Limban, 30, of Aliliw, Ilocos Sur; Albert Baowan, 26, of Madela, Quirino; Pilo Bagtingan, 45, of Saitan, Pangasinan; and Rey Flores, 39, of San Mateo, Isabela.

Recovered from the suspects were the stolen jewelry worth some P1 million stuffed inside four large travelling bags, a caliber .45 pistol and ammunition, acetylene tanks, welding equipment and bolt cutters.

The suspects were arrested after they illegally entered Evangelista street at about 3 a.m.

Initial police investigation showed that hours before they were arrested, the suspects allegedly broke into the M.A. Jaro Pawnshop in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

After the robbery, the suspects hailed a passing passenger jeepney (PWK-464) plying the Dasmariñas-Baclaran route, driven by Ricky Luario on Aguinaldo Highway.

Police said the suspects paid Laurio P700 and asked him to take them to Manila.

Meanwhile, for lighting firecrackers, a 25-year-old upholsterer was seriously wounded after he was shot in the face by a security guard of a bus terminal in Sampaloc, Manila early Monday morning.

According to a police report, victim Renato Limhoco, of 2186 Dapitan St., Sampaloc, Manila, was drinking with friends at about 1:45 a.m. when he decided to light some firecrackers inside the Viron Transit terminal along Dapitan street.

Police said the exploding firecrackers caught the attention of the unidentified security guard who warned Limhoco to stop as it could set fire to gasoline and lubricants in the terminal.

According to police, the drunk victim ignored the warning and continued lighting firecrackers. This allegedly angered the suspect who pointed his 12-gauge shotgun at the victim and fired. Limhoco was hit in the left side of his face by the blast, police said.

Police said the suspect fled after the incident while Limhoco was rushed to the nearby Santo Tomas University Hospital for treatment.

In Tondo, a 19-year-old parking attendant was shot and killed while fleeing from 10 armed men who had earlier harassed him and his friends inside the Parola Compound, Tondo also early Monday morning. Police identified the victim as Ernesto Marborang, of 0117, Area D, Gate 17, Parola Compound, Tondo.

Initial police investigation showed that prior to the incident, the victim and his friends were walking inside the Parola Compound on their way to Gate-15 when the unidentified suspects, blocked their path at about 1 a.m.

Police said Marborang and his companions then tried to run but the suspects opened fire, hitting Marborang in the back.

Marborang was rushed by bystanders to the Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital where he died while being treated.

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