‘Resto Gang’ strikes anew, feasts on Kenny Rogers

Seven heavily armed men robbed a fast-food restaurant in Sampaloc, Manila Thursday night, carting away an undetermined cash and valuables, the second heist in the same area in a span of three weeks.

Robbed was the Kenny Rogers Roasters branch along A.H. Lacson Boulevard corner Dapitan Street. Several blocks away is the Wendy’s hamburger store which was also robbed by gun-wielding men last Aug. 27.

Sampaloc police station chief Senior Superintendent Amador Pabustan said the robbery occurred at about 9:45 p.m. when four of the seven suspects entered the store and disarmed the lone security guard of the Kenny Rogers branch.

Two of them then divested two customers of their belongings while another ordered the store’s manager to open their vault.

After scooping the cash from the vault, the suspects fled on board a white van and escaped in the direction of Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Witnesses said the three other suspects served as lookouts and even directed traffic. The suspects were wearing bonnets and armed with high-powered long arms.

Intelligence sources told The STAR the suspects were actually planning to execute simultaneous heists on adjacent fastfood joints in the area but were thwarted by the quick response of Sampaloc policemen, led by Chief Inspector Larry de los Arcos.

"We may have inferior weapons compared to those carried by the suspects, but we are determined to face them in a gun battle. Luckily for them they made a fast escape," De los Arcos said. He added he immediately radioed for assistance to block all possible exits of the suspects.

Due to the frequent robbery incidents along A.H. Lacson Avenue, De los Arcos proposes to establish a police detachment in the area.

Last week, two members of a robbery gang that struck the Wendy’s hamburger store branch in the same area were arrested by the Sampaloc police in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

A Mitsubishi Adventure van used as a getaway car and a 12-gauge shotgun were recovered from suspects Justino Miranday and Rolly Buhatin.

The two were freed after posting bail. – With Mike Frialde