Rookie cop nabs 2 jeepney robbers

A rookie policeman pounding the beat singlehandedly nabbed two robbers victimizing jeepney passengers in Sampaloc, Manila last Monday night.

The arrest of the heavily tattooed suspects was a result of the deployment of repressive police patrol teams in crime-prone areas in the city, according to Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong.

WPD-Theft and Robbery Section commander Chief Inspector Benjamin Reyes had formed teams of undercover cops who regularly patrol the stretch of Legarda street up to C.M. Recto Avenue following reports of rampant robbery, snatching and muggings involving commuters.

Police Officer 2 Salvador Tangdol was one of the assigned cops in the area who regularly pound the beat.

At about 7:30 p.m., he noticed a commotion inside a passenger jeepney. One of the female passengers was trying to hold on to her necklace while a man frantically tried to take it.

Tangdol introduced himself as a cop and announced the arrest. But the suspect pulled out a fan knife and lunged at the cop.

A male lookout also joined the fray.

A martial arts expert, Tangdol managed to disarm one of the suspects and floored them both.

At the police headquarters, the suspects, identified as Ramil Carillo, 25, of Padilla street, Quiapo, and Romy Santiago, 32, of Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, confessed having pulled several robbery and snatching incidents along the stretch of Legarda street.

The two suspects, both heavily tattoed and members of the Batang City Jail gang, also admitted coming in and out of prison.

Reyes called on victims of robbery and snatching to come to the WPD headquarters and identify the suspects for additional charges.

"With several cases against them, these notorious suspects would find it hard to be able to regain their freedom and continue their nefarious activities," Reyes said.