Manila’s 3rd most wanted arrested

Police arrested yesterday in his hiding place in Tondo the third most wanted person in Manila through text messages sent by concerned persons.

Rome Quiray, 30, a Batang City Jail gang member and leader of the notorious robbery group "Quiroy Gang," is wanted for a series of murder and robbery incidents in Tondo and Malate, according to Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr., chief of the Manila Police District’s homicide section. The gang is also reportedly involved in the distribution of illegal drugs. Quiray, whose late father was also a Manila policeman, had reportedly killed four persons, the latest – a woman who was shot in Tondo. He has also five warrants of arrest for illegal drugs, robbery and murder cases.

"The suspect is so elusive that the police have been hunting him since 2004. That’s why we tap the neighborhood to serve as tipsters on his whereabouts," Yanquiling told The STAR.

Follow up unit chief Inspector Ismael dela Cruz even provides their network of informants with pre-paid cellular cards to keep their communication open, Yanquiling said. The breakthrough in the hunt for Quiray came yesterday morning when Yanquiling received a text message that the suspect was spotted in Tondo. Armed with warrants, homicide operatives led by SPO4 Ed Paterno swooped down on a house at the corner of Cristobal and Sevilla streets and there surprised Quiray inside a room. The raiders also found drug paraphernalia inside the room.

Yanquiling said the house where Quiray was arrested belongs to an active jail officer. He added the police are contemplating of filing criminal charges against the owner for harboring a wanted criminal.

Quiray is now undergoing tactical interrogation to find out the identities of his cohorts. "With the arrest of Quiray, we believe we have busted one of the robbery syndicates in Metro Manila who use motorcycles in their robbing spree," Yanquiling said.

Quiray denied the murder charges filed against him.