Cops warn of resurgence of Camanava rob gang

Agents of the Northern Police District (NPD) are now on alert following the reported resurgence of a well-entrenched criminal group that wear cops’ uniforms in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (Camanava) area.

"We are now tracking them down and we would like the public to be aware of this group’s modus operandi," SPO4 Antonio Tenorio, NPD-District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU) officer-in-charge, told The STAR.

Tenorio said the eight-man Estrada gang, headed by former Traffic Management Group (TMG) policeman, PO2 Allan Estrada, and a certain Neil Cutad, could now be hiding somewhere in the northern part of Metro Manila.

Tenorio tagged the gang in the robbery of Solid Shipping Lines in Navotas last June 6.

Solid Shipping security guard Genie Mantilla told the police that one of the suspects who knocked at the main gate of their firm was wearing a police uniform.

The robbers used a black Ford Expedition, with license plate CTN-817, as the get-away vehicle. They are still at large.

Tenorio said the group was also responsible for the May 26 robbery of a jeweller in Apalit, Pampanga.

At least eight fully-armed men in black Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) uniform, aboard a stolen Izusu Crosswind, with license plate XHY-779, and a Mitsubishi Aventure, with license plate CXL-583, robbed businesswoman Nenita Balangit at her residence.

The group abadoned the Crosswind get-away car along the North Luzon Expressway in Pampanga and commandeered a passing white L-300 van, with license plate UMT-122.

The Crosswind yielded different types of police uniforms, a handheld radio, a gas mask, a back pack, bandolier, pistol belt and several car plates, Tenorio said.

Police found out that the Crosswind is owned by Assistant Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol, which was forcibly taken from his driver Nicolas Rafols in Caloocan City at around 6 a.m. on May 26.

The L-300 van was recovered by the DPIU agents in front of the Victory Trucking compound at Lot 24, Block 15, Tanigue st., Kaunlaran Village, Barangay Longos, Malabon City on June 3.

PO2 Roger Libuton said the vehicle, owned by Leadtech Systems Inc., yielded a pair of black bonnets, a coin purse with several keys, and assorted documents.

According to Tenorio, the Estrada gang is also engaged in kidnap-for-ransom activities.