Las Piñas cops arrest 11 street criminals

Las Pinas City policemen arrested 11 people allegedly involved in various street crimes after a recent series of operations in line with the anti-criminality directive of Mayor Imelda Aguilar.

City police chief Superintendent Josephus Angan said the arrests were also part of their effort to provide safer streets for residents and visitors of the city.

Among those arrested were two robbers preying on commuters along Alabang-Zapote Road. They were identified as Roberto Arguelles, 35, and Joseph Ventura, 25.

Arguelles, who is believed to be members of a gang victimizing passengers of jeepneys in the vicinity of Factor Compound, was nabbed last July 13 by operatives of Precinct 5, led by Chief Inspector Alfredo Payoyo.

Ventura, a suspected member of the Akyat Bahay Gang and the Simeon robbery group that operates at Uniwide and Times Village in Pamplona 3, was collared inside his house in Talon II by virtue of a warrant of arrest by elements of Precinct 7 under Superintendent Joachim Bocalbos.

Last July 17, police arrested Randy Ternate, a fugitive facing illegal drugs charges.

The others were identified as Jayson Quilatan and Christian Lawan, both suspected robbers; Randy Lazo, Larry Regalado, Noel Jimena, Florentino Molina, Johnny de la Cruz, and Allan Viray, who all face theft charges.

Angan said they will continue to hunt fugitives that pose a threat to the community.

"This only means that criminals cannot just run that easily. But of course, we are also intensifying our crime prevention campaign," the police chief said.

Aguilar, meanwhile, commended the local police and ensured them of support from the city government in running after criminals.