Akyat Bahay gang member arrested

Police nabbed yesterday a notorious member of an "Akyat Bahay" gang reportedly involved in a series of robbery among business establishments in Malate, Manila.

Western Police District-Theft and Robbery Section chief Senior Inspector Benjamin Reyes identified the suspect as Jess Garcia, 35, a Sputnik gang member, of 2196 F. Leveriza st., Malate.

Reyes said Garcia was identified by his latest victim from the police rogue gallery. Reyes then formed a team of operatives to conduct routine patrol in the known lairs of the suspect.

At around 10 a.m. yesterday the police spotted Garcia along Taft Avenue near the corner of Quirino Avenue in Malate while reportedly casing another business establishment.

When brought face-to-face with the complainant, Garcia was positively identified as the person she had noticed observing her establishment for several days before it was robbed.

According to Rosalinda Salado, 48, owner of a photoshop at Park Avenue Condominium, her place was ransacked last Wednesday resulting in the loss of two expensive cameras worth P106,000. The robber did not even spare the "Bantay-Bata" donation can containing an undetermined amount of coins, according to the complainant.

Police investigation showed the robber entered the shop by prying off the galvanized iron sheet roofing, gaining access to the roof by passing through the adjacent LRT station.

Through the police rogue gallery, the complainant identified the suspect, who, according to Reyes, had been previously arrested for robbery.

Reyes is calling on other "Akyat-Bahay" victims to identify the suspect, who is presently detained at the WPD integrated jail, so additional charges could be filed against him.