Cab driver, allies sentenced  to 14 years imprisonment

A Pasay judge has sentenced to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment a taxi driver who, together with nine male companions robbed a security agency of close to P3 million worth of firearms in Pasay City almost two years ago.

Judge Pedro Corales of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court-Branch 118, also ordered Raymond Bongabong to indemnify DASIA Security Agency the amount of P2,952,480 which is said to be the actual amount of the items taken by Bongabong’s group from the agency.

The court however, issued a directive that the case be archived with respect to Bongabong’s nine cohorts who remain at large.

Court records showed that on the night of Dec. 31, 2005, Bongabong and his nine companions who were armed, threatened and ordered the agency’s security guards — Edwin Ulan-Ulan and Adelio Pimentel, to open the gate of the DASIA compound located along Galvez Street corner Park Avenue in Pasay City.

The men initially introduced themselves as policemen. They were wearing shirts with SWAT printed on it. They told the two guards that they are going to conduct inspection of the company’s firearms and check if these are licensed or not. They later claimed that they were rebels and hogtied the security personnel.

The robbery group were then eventually able to open the agency’s storage vault and took more or less 50 firearms which included M16s, shotguns and 38 caliber revolvers, about 1,000 rounds of ammunitions, armored vests, steel helmets, trunk radios and cell phone — all amounting to almost P3 million.

After the armed men left, Ulan-Ulan called the Pasay Police Station for help. He managed to get the license plate of one of the vehicles used by the group as well as take a closer look at one of the suspects who was later identified as Bongabong.

Elements of the Parañaque Police arrested Bongabong in a follow-up operation.

Bongabong testified in court that he did not leave his house in Las Piñas City when the incident happened. He said he celebrated New Year’s Eve in his house together with some friends.

Bongabong denied having met the complainants and did not know the reasons why he was implicated in the case.

However, the Court ruled in favor of the prosecution.

“The denial and alibi of the accused could simply not prevail over the positive testimonies of Ulan-Ulan and Pimentel. The Court did not find any motive on their part why they would implicate the accused in this case and falsely testify against him. It is well settled that alibi is a weak defense. Alibi, which is easy to concoct, cannot prevail over positive identification,” Corales’ 11-page decision read.