Wendy’s rob suspects fall

Two members of a robbery gang that held up a fastfood outlet in Sampaloc, Manila last week were arrested by operatives of the Western Police District (WPD) in follow-up operations in Dasmariñas, Cavite over the weekend.

The suspects, identified as Justino Miranday, 39, and Rolly Buhatin, 30, were allegedly responsible for the Aug. 27 heist of a Wendy’s hamburger store branch along Dapitan Street in Sampaloc.

Recovered from the suspects were a Mitsubishi Adventure van (WMN-145) used as their get-away vehicle and a 12-gauge shotgun taken from the Wendy’s security guard.

A team of Sampaloc police operatives tracked down the van after its owner, Ester Gatdula, informed the police that the vehicle was hired by Miranday. The van is used as a "garage service" public utility vehicle plying the Lawton-Cavite route.

Two-day follow-up operations led to the arrest of the suspects at their residences at Phase 2, Area DDB, Dasmariñas, Cavite. The suspects are now undergoing tactical interrogation.

Senior Superintendent Amador Pabustan, Sampaloc police station chief, commended his men for the quick arrest of the suspects while giving credit to an anti-crime citizen’s group for providing vital information leading to the arrest of other criminals.

Task Force Tutubi (Tulong-Tulong Bawat Isa), a brainchild of Chief Inspector Larry de los Arcos, commander of the University Belt police community precinct of Sampaloc police station, is composed of non-government organizations, businessmen, barangay tanods and students. Its members are trained in police surveillance.

Task Force Tutubi was also instrumental in the recent arrest of five persons who turned out to be the perpetrators of a series of gasoline station robberies in Pasig.

The arrested suspects were identified as Marlon Tabada, 19, of Lupang Mitra, Taytay, Rizal; Jervy Pilantagaan, 17, of F. Soriano Street., Sto. Tomas, Pasig; Jose Eguia, 20, of 227 Tortusa Street., Sampaloc; Orlando Camaro, 17, of Bolante Dos, Pasig; and Jay-ar Tranquilino, 17, of Sta. Cruz, Pasig. Recovered from the suspects were a caliber .38 revolver and several fan knives.

De los Arcos said the five suspects were involved in a series of robberies on Caltex and Sea Oil gas stations and a convenience store in Pasig.

The gun recovered from Tabada was verified by the Pasig police as the service firearm of the convenience store’s security guard, who was shot by the robbers.

WPD director Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong directed other police stations to replicate the formation of Task Force Tutubi as the unarmed component of the police in its fight against criminals. — With Mike Frialde