Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., commander of CPD-Station 7 in Cubao, Quezon City, identified the suspect as Marlon Tabuac, 40, a resident of 37 Miami street also in Cubao.
Tabuac was arrested after he allegedly robbed a young girl of her wallet containing P1,200 cash and a Nokia 3310 cell phone.
According to Durana, the capture of the suspect was a result of a follow-up operation last Saturday morning in a squatters’ area on Aguho street, Project 2, Quezon City.
Police recovered from Tabuac a caliber .38 revolver loaded with four bullets.
A detainee at CPD-Station 7 identified Tabuac as the leader of the Mata holdup-robbery gang, Durana said.
"This robbery gang is a notorious crime syndicate victimizing our hapless commuters in Cubao area. Based on our records, they have been responsible for a total of six robberies in our area of responsibility and immediate environs," the CPD-Station 7 chief said.
"About a month ago, Marlon Tabuac or Mata, shot one of my men, but he missed," he added.
Prior to his arrest, Tabuac victimized a woman from Bulacan who was waiting for a ride at around 1 a.m. last Saturday along Aurora Boulevard near Miami street in Cubao.
Tabuac took the woman’s valuables at gunpoint and fled.
However, the victim immediately went to CPD-Station 7 in Camp Panopio, Cubao to report the incident.
Without delay, Durana dispatched a follow-up team, composed of SPO2 Leonil Banzon, PO1 Norvil Adonis, PO1 Christian Bajen, PO1 Rodolfo Carganilla, PO1 Rionaldo Sabulaan, PO1 Rogelio Nacional and PO1 Rejie Torrita, to track down and arrest the suspect.
Tabuac is now detained at the CPD-Station 7 and has been charged with robbery-holdup and illegal possession of a firearm before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. – Katherine Adraneda