Ex-cop nabbed for robbery

A dismissed policeman tagged as the leader of a robbery group preying on joggers, office workers and students in the tri-boundaries of Quezon City, Manila and Caloocan City was arrested last Wednesday in Pasay City.

During a confrontation yesterday at the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, nine victims positively identified PO1 Christopher Villaluz, 34, formerly assigned at Station 6 of the Manila Police District (MPD), as the man who robbed them.

RISOO chief Superintendent Sotero Ramos said the gang accosts victims and grabs their cash, jewelry and cell phones at gunpoint.

The rampant robberies in the area had reached the attention of Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol, who directed Ramos to conduct a special intelligence operations to neutralize the Villaluz robbery gang.

"We showed a photo of Villaluz to victims and he was positively identified as one of the suspects," Ramos said. The ex-cop’s gang was behind over 50 robbery-holdup cases.

Armed with a warrant, police arrested Villaluz in Pasay City.

Ramos called on other victims of Villaluz and his gang to come forward so additional charges can be filed against him.

According to Ramos, the MPD called him up yesterday to say they were also after Villaluz for rape and robbery. <