Robbery gang member arrested

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has arrested the driver of the get-away vehicle of a robbery gang whose three members were killed in an encounter atop the Del Pan bridge in Binondo last May 30.

NCRPO chief Director Vidal Querol said Bienvenido Barizo, alias Ben, did not resist arrest when cornered by elements of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) headed by Inspector Auxillo Gador in Parola, Tondo, four days after the foiled robbery.

Querol said Barizo yielded a US Carbine caliber .30 with 15 live bullets and two car plates — WCA-955 and UMF-600.

"The success of our pursuit operations conducted against the notorious Abuyog robbery-hold-up gang must be attributed to the diligence and teamwork displayed by our NCRPO-PACER operatives," said Querol.

The NCRPO chief said the Abuyog gang stopped the vehicle carrying P1.9 million in payroll money of the Gothong shipping lines atop the Del Pan bridge when encountered by combined elements of the NCRPO and the Western Police District (WPD) headed by Gador.

Two of the suspects were killed on the spot.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief, said Barizo managed to drive away from the site of the encounter in the gang’s get-away vehicle — a Tamaraw FX — with wounded companion Bernard Bancil, of Balsahan, Naic, Cavite, on board.

Bancil, who sustained a gunshot wound in the back, died while in transit, Rojas said.

Accompanied by Vicenta Amor, who allegedly provided the get-away vehicle, Barizo dumped Bancil’s body in Caingin, Meycauayan, Bulacan apparently to mislead police investigators.

According to Rojas, a check with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) showed that the get-away vehicle was owned by Amor’s husband, Severino.

Severino, however, explained that an elder brother, Carlito, of Moriones, Tondo, borrowed the vehicle from him last May 27.

The vehicle was returned to him by Barizo and his wife at 11 p.m. last May 30 with a smashed windshield and bullet holes. The duo told Severino that they got caught in a riot in Tondo. — Non Alquitran