This initial catch led to the subsequent arrest of six other gang members in a follow-up operation led by PCP 1 commander Inspector Muammar Mukaram.
Superintendent Billy Beltran, city police chief, identified the suspects as Joivanni Magaso, 35; Paterno Cabilangan, 23; Rosendo Bayron, 36; Pedro de los Santos, 43; Dennis Harayo, 22; and Fernando de Jesus, 41.
Mukaram and his men initially collared Santiago Renieva, 36, shortly after the heist.
Records showed the suspects, posing as passengers, singled out Catalina de los Reyes of the Metro Power Services Agency inside a jeepney as it cruised along Bisalao street at around 5:30 p.m.
Brandishing handguns and bladed weapons, the suspects divested De los Reyes of the money intended for workers at the Sampson Built Corp. before alighting in Bagbaguin.
De los Reyes reported the incident to the police, resulting in the arrest of Renieva.
Under interrogation, Renieva admitted his participation and guided PCP1 operatives to his cohorts’ safehouse at Sapa Bisalao in Bagbaguin.
Seized from the suspects were a revolver, five knives, a cell phone and 26 payroll envelopes containing P40,000, representing only what remained of a bigger amount after the suspects divided the loot.
At the station, De los Reyes positively identified the suspects as the same persons responsible for the robbery. — With Pete Laude