Cops nab U-Belt robbery suspects

Seven suspected robbers were nabbed by the police along the University Belt in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday as part of its tightened security preparations for the opening of classes on June 6.

Operatives of the Western Police District’s Theft and Robbery Section, led by Chief Inspector Benjamin Reyes, were conducting a saturation drive in and around Manila’s school campuses to implement the police’s "Oplan Balik Paaralan" to prevent criminal elements from preying on parents and students.

The operation resulted in the arrest of the seven suspects who were verified as having criminal records of robbery cases involving students and commuters along the University Belt.

"The operation is a positive approach against criminals. The police preempt their illegal acts before they are committed," Reyes explained.

The arrested suspects, who sport tattoos on their bodies, were identified as Ricky Mendoza, 21; Joel Gutierrez, 33; Joel Nuñez, 36; Ruben del Rosario, 35; Moises Tagpul, 37; Ricardo Secretaria, 35; and Reynaldo Paraian, 34.

Reyes, upon the directive of WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, ordered his men to conduct similar operations in other school campuses to catch suspected pickpockets, robbers, muggers, cell phone snatchers and other criminal elements.

The arrested suspects will be initially charged with vagrancy, pending the result of further character verification against their person.

Reyes is also calling on victims of robbery-snatchings to personally visit the WPD headquarters and identify the suspects so that additional charges can be filed against them. "We do not want these suspects to be back on the streets. Their incarceration will greatly enhanced the peace and order situation at the University Belt," he said.

Last Wednesday, the Manila police arrested some 46 suspected criminals following separate saturation drives in crime-prone areas in the city.

Bulaong also announced the continuing police operations to flush out undesirable characters in Manila which may take advantage of the opening of classes to sow misdeeds among parents and students.

"The series of arrest was the result of the WPD’s intensified campaign against all forms of criminality in our continuing commitment to the directive of Mayor Lito Atienza to avert street crimes, especially with the coming opening of classes. The operations were conducted amidst reports that criminals may take advantage of the confusion and chaos during school opening," Bulaong said. – Nestor Etolle