QC councilor lauded for arrest of robbers

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has lauded a barangay councilor who secretly trailed and caused the arrest of a group of armed men who were allegedly involved in a series of armed robberies in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Belmonte said Alijandro Palma, a councilor of Barangay San Agustin, trailed a group of heavily armed men who robbed his junkshop last May 1 and alerted a police patrol on the presence of the suspects in the area.

"Kagawad (Councilor) Palma did what a concerned citizen must do in turning over criminals to the police," Belmonte said.

In a report to the mayor, Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, Quezon City police director, said that when the suspects were presented to the media, several victims showed up at the police station to file complaints.

The suspects were identified as Danilo Baliran, 38; Roy Pelare, 30; Marion Mendoza, 30, a former Air Force man; Jerome Barrios, 27, former Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet; Rogelio Mendoza, 41; Antonio Antoque, 28; and Elec Marcon, 32.

Seized from the suspects were two caliber .45 pistols, a motorcycle and a Mazda van loaded with personal belongings of their victims.

Radovan said among those who filed complaints against the suspects were Annabel Locson, who was robbed inside her store in Barangay Baesa; and Mindan Rayala and Arvy De La Fuente, who were also robbed of their cell phones, cash and other valuables along Armstrong Avenue, Moonwalk Subdivision in Pasay City.