Marikina rob gang led by a woman busted

A gang of robbers, led by a woman and believed behind the rash of FX taxi and passenger jeepney robberies in Marikina City since last year, was arrested over the weekend after it pulled off another heist.

The gang yielded a caliber .38 revolver, two fan knives and the loot they took from their victims, police said.

Superintendent Cipriano Querol, Marikina City police chief identified those arrested as Gorgie Ginitriran, 20, the alleged gang leader, of Barangay Mayamot, Antipolo City; and her cohorts, Christopher Quintana, 19, of Project 4, Quezon City, and Benny Branzuela, 19, and Michael Rosario, 19, both of Barangay Concepcion, also in Marikina.

Querol said the suspects boarded a passenger jeepney bound for Rodriguez town in Rizal (formerly Montalban) along Anonas Street, Project 2 in Quezon City at about 2 p.m. Sunday.

Upon reaching a portion of Marcos Highway in Barangay Calumpang, the three male suspects took out their weapons, upon receiving a signal from Ginitiran, and announced the holdup.

Upon divesting the passengers of their wallets, cellphones and important belongings, the suspects dashed out of the vehicle and rushed to the other side of the street where they took another passenger jeepney.

However, a police car passed by and the victims flagged it down and reported their sad plight. The police gave chase and cornered the suspects while they were alighting from the passenger jeepney along Barangay Barangka.

The suspects admitted the charges against them. They claimed that it was only their second time to pull off a robbery in the area. – Non Alquitran