Valenzuela police nab 3 rob gang members

Police arrested at least three members of a robbery and holdup gang in an operation last Tuesday in Valenzuela City.

Superintendent Billy Beltran, the city police chief, identified the suspects as Gilbert Ellado, 32, a resident of Villa Liwayway Subdivision, Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela; Jessie Isidro, 35, of Barangay Alangan, Limay, Bataan, and Norlito Medollar, 38, of Marcelo street, also of Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela.

The suspects were arrested at Ellado’s residence at around 10 a.m. by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Valenzuela City Judge Nena Santos.

A police team, led by SPO4 Henry Marteja, nabbed the suspects.

The suspects are said to be members of the Balasta Gang, headed by one Carling Balasta.

The group is allegedly being backed by a politician.

Balasta’s group has been tagged by the police in aseries of robberies in Valenzuela and nearby cities.

Among them are the recent robbery of a former overseas Filipino worker Jocelyn Mercado at her house in Villa Liwayway; the robbery of CMK Cellphone Co. on Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City, and the Floring’s Grocery and Supermarket on SSS Village in Marikina City.

Police are now hunting down the group’s leader and his four other cohorts.

The suspects, police said, were facing charges of robbery in band, frustrated murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and car theft filed with Valenzuela City courts and other courts in Metro Manila. – Jerry, Botial, Pete Laude