1 killed, 12 nabbed in anti-crime blitz

A robber was killed while 12 suspected holduppers and petty criminals were arrested in a 24-hour operation conducted by the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) that began Wednesday night in Metro Manila.

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon walking the beat to address election-related, anti-crime and anti-terrorism concerns.

"You see, the people have spoken. The checkpoints and chokepoints that we have been implementing, created an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in our communities," said De Leon.

De Leon identified the slain robber as Bernardino Estabaya, alias ‘Panet,’ who was involved in a robbery-holdup case in Barangay Pag-asa. His companions managed to escape after divesting passengers of AC Transit bus of their cash and valuables.

Estabaya was killed in an alleged shootout with a police team headed by Inspector Geronimo Estacion of the CPD Station 2 in Baler.

Those arrested were Alfredo Villanueva, 35; Allan Mamangcas, 21; Jefferson Obias, 21; Vicente Barizo; Christopher Tigolo, 23; Marlon Trinares, 21; Jefferson Arroyo, 18; Ferdinand Benigno Laban, 19; Lloyd Garrido Laban, 18; Erlinda Mameng, 42; Rooth-C Catalan, 33, and Darwin Flores, 18.

Villanueva, Mamangcas and Obias were arrested by men of Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, CPD Station 10 chief, after two robbery victims pointed to them as the same men who robbed them inside a passenger bus near the Quezon City Hall. Binag said they recovered two caliber .45 automatic pistols and a caliber .38 revolver from the three suspects. "One of them was wearing the same shirt when they robbed the bus so he was positively identified by one of their victims," said Binag in an interview.

Arroyo and the Labans were arrested by elements of the Pasay City police after a hot pursuit in a checkpoint along F. B. Harrison street in Pasay City. They were identified as the same men who robbed a passenger jeepney a few blocks away from the checkpoint.

De Leon lauded PO1 Manuel Laison, of the Marikina City police, for risking his life and limb in foiling a jeepney robbery that led to the wounding of Barizo and Tigolo and the arrest of Trinares, and the recovery of P2,500 loot.

Mameng is facing drug charges, Catalan for rape and Flores was accused of murder. — With Katherine Adraneda, Jerry Botial