‘Estribo Gang’ busted

Manila police arrested yesterday four members of the notorious "Estribo Gang" believed to be behind the series of robbery incidents involving passenger jeepneys.

Chief Inspector Antonio Entico, operations chief of the Western Police District’s Special Operations Group, identified the suspects as Richard Sumagi, 34, of Happyland, Tondo; Danilo Lorenzo, 24, of 1920 Dimasalang st., Sta. Cruz; Raymundo de la Cruz, 27, of 740 Malate, Manila; and Gaspar Villaba, 27, of 1954 Romblon st., Quezon City. The four are members of the dreaded Bahala na Gang, according to Entico. Entico said the suspects were behind the series of robbery incidents inside passenger jeepneys plying the Taft Avenue-Sta. Cruz route. "This group usually worked in four and would occupy the rear seats of jeepneys, hence, its tag as Estribo Gang. Their victims do not have a chance to escape since they would block the jeepney’s exit," he said.

The latest caper of the gang was on Thursday evening when they held up four women passengers of a Sta. Cruz-bound jeepney near the Manila City Hall.

Police informants led police to the lair of Sumagi, reportedly the group’s head, at the Ikaw Lang ang Mahal Ko Inn, a seedy motel at the heart of Sta. Cruz district.

Recovered from him were assorted fan knives, cellular phones, wristwatches, ATMs and credit cards which were part of their loot.

During interrogation, Sumagi pointed to the whereabout of his three cohorts. Recovered from the suspects were the remaining loot of cash and jewelry.

The suspects admitted robbing jeepney passengers while under the influence of drugs and liquor. Charges of highway robbery were filed against the suspects.

Entico is calling on all other holdup victims to identify the suspects at the SOG detention cell at the Manila City Hall for the filing of more charges.