Police to arrest Asia Trust Bank robbers today

The Central Police District assured yesterday that they are closing in on the suspects of the Asia Trust Bank robbery in Quezon City, who they believe are also responsible for the series of robberies in the area.

Police sources said they expect to collar the robbers "somewhere in Cavite City" today. The suspects are said to be remnants of the defunct "Kuratong Baleleng" and "Ilongo-Waray" gangs.

"It will be a lot harder for us to bring these men down because they just doubled in number. But we know where they are located and that is already half the battle," Chief Inspector Rodolfo Jaraza said in an interview.

Investigators claimed they have identified one of the men involved but declined to name him.

Policemen have been conducting extensive manhunt operations against the group after they robbed the Asia Trust Bank in Novaliches of about P3 million and seriously injured its security guard.

At least eight robbers hit the said bank at the crowded Nova Plaza Mall in Novaliches at about 5:45 p.m. The gunmen immediately fled the scene with the cash on board a blue van with license plate PUV-780.