Cops nab ‘Terror of Lagusnilad’

Two holdupmen dubbed as "Terror of Lagusnilad" were nabbed in a police operation in Ermita, Manila yesterday.

Lagusnilad, an underpass in front of the Manila City Hall, was where Nomer Reyes, 24, a Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang member, of Tondo and Noel Rabida, 28, a Sigue-Sigue-Commando gang member, of Sta. Cruz, terrorized commuters and pedestrians.

Both had been recently released from prison on murder and robbery charges.

Western Police District-Theft and Robbery Section head Chief Inspector Benjamin Reyes said the arrest of the suspects was prompted by a directive from WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong to neutralize the armed robbery group victimizing commuters passing the Lagusnilad.

Reyes said he studied the modus operandi of the group based on the series of robberies in the area and found out that the gang strikes between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Reyes immediately deployed plainclothes policemen near the vicinity leading to the arrest of the suspects.

The suspects were apprehended inside a passenger jeepney while about to stage another heist. Recovered from the suspects were two fan knives.

Several complainants positively identified the two as the same persons who robbed them of cash and valuables on several occasions while their jeepneys passed the Lagusnilad. — Nestor Etolle