Taguig raid suspect released from custody

A former aide of resigned Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, tagged as the "brains" behind the rash of bank robberies in Metro Manila, was ordered released from police custody by the Rizal Prosecutor's Office.

Assistant provincial prosecutor Wilfredo Oca ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to release former Army Sgt. Rodolfo Romero for "further investigation."

However, Oca set the preliminary investigation on the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition charges against Romero and his 10 co-accused on Oct. 6. Oca ordered the continued detention of Romero’s co-accused at the CIDG.

Romero, a former close-in security of Reyes, surrendered before Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., last Monday, a day after combined police and military personnel raided his alleged "safehouse" in Palar Village, Taguig.

The raiders arrested 10 people believed behind the rash of bank robberies in Metro Manila, including the Citibank main office in Makati City. They yielded high-powered firearms and assorted ammunition.

Romero said the evidence recovered from his house on Mt. Apo, Group 2, Palar Village Sunday were merely "souvenirs" from his former job in the military service. "I wouldn’t have shown and submitted myself to them (police) if I were guilty," he said.

The raiders were armed with 26 search warrants from various courts when they swooped down at Palar Vilalge, augmented by tanks from the military.

Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco said they are still in the process of sifting through evidence prior to the filing of robbery charges against the suspects.

Velasco also ordered Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez, Southern Police District (SPD) director, to coordinate with bank officials victimized by the group for their possible positive identification. – Non Alquitran