Arrest of bank rob suspects hailed

Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. yesterday lauded the recent arrest of armed robbers involved in a series of bank robberies in Quezon City and nearby areas.

"This is a result of an effective police intelligence work . . . a victory for the efforts of the police and the local government to curb crimes in Quezon City," Belmonte said during the presentation of the suspects yesterday.

Operatives of the Central Police District (CPD) foiled an attempted bank robbery when they arrested Tuesday 12 robbery suspects along Roosevelt Avenue in front of an Equitable PCI Bank branch.

The suspects were identified as Manuel Matman, Marciano Valenzuela, Nicolas Gonzaga, Jesus Mentes, Claudio Sacro, Aladin Malinao, Armando Dehino, Carlos Sas, and Noel Ortiz.

Seized from them were four caliber .38 revolvers, two caliber .45 pistols, and a super caliber .38 pistol, plus several sachets of shabu and some communication gear.

According to the police, a tip from an informant said that the bank would be robbed that day. Thus, when the suspects arrived, policemen immediately pounced and arrested them.

Authorities said the group was responsible for the bank robberies in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, three more robbery suspects were nabbed on the same day following a long chase along Quirino Highway in Novaliches also in Quezon City.

Police arrested Eliseo Barres, 41 and Ronaldo Montalbo, 39, both of Kalamasian, Sipuang Compound, Caloocan City and Elizalde Laylay, 28, of Parkland, Camarin, also in Caloocan.

Laylay was arrested only after trying to pre-empt the arrest of Barres and Montalbo during the chase.

The suspects were riding on motorcycles and were armed with caliber .38 revolvers, 12 rounds of ammunition, and a fan knife when arrested.

Investigation showed that Laylay was part of the group of armed robbers who gunned down the late Senior Police Officer 4 Balbilo Dipasupil of CPD-Station 6 during an armed robbery of a Metro armored van along Commonwealth Avenue last March 18, 2002. Police said witnesses positively identified Laylay. — Katherine Adraneda