Cops, city hall personnel foil bus robbery in QC

Alert traffic policemen and city hall employees arrested four members of the Estribo Gang after foiling a bus robbery Thursday in Quezon City.

Metro police chief Director General Ricardo de Leon said suspects Amador Gonzaga, 22; Jonjon Velegas, 24; John Rey Gonzales, 18, and Russel Delfin, 20, were behind the rash of bus and jeepney heists along the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City in the past months.

Reports reaching De Leon said that the 10 gang members were on board a public utility bus when they took out their handguns and bladed weapons and announced the heist in front the Litex Manggahan Market at about 11:45 a.m. Thursday.

While the suspects were divesting bus passengers of their cash and valuables, shouts for help rang out, catching the attention of elements of the Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) of the Central Police District (CPD) and the Department of Public Order and Safety of Quezon City undertaking clearing operations in the area.

Without wasting time, the TEG, headed by Superintendent Manolo Labador, and the city hall employees responded and arrested four of the suspects, who gave themselves up peacefully. They yielded bladed weapons and part of their loot.

During tactical interrogation, the suspects admitted their role in recent bus and jeepney robberies on Commonwealth Ave.

De Leon said the relentless anti-crime campaign of the Metro Manila police is part of the thrust of PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. of winning the streets against criminals and keeping commuters safe.

He said that the inception of the KALYE policing formula last month has resulted in the solution of 50 out of 75 incidents of street crimes and the arrest of 83 suspects.

The crimes include cellular phone and jewelry snatching and PUJ robberies. — With Pete Laude