Inmate snatched by gangmates in QC

A notorious robbery-homicide suspect who is one of the 10 most wanted criminals in Quezon City escaped yesterday morning when he was snatched from his three police escorts by his alleged gangmates during a daring operation along EDSA in Cubao.

Pedro Rodica, 32, was taken from his police escorts by eight armed men onboard two utility vehicles that blocked the police mobile patrol car that was supposed to transport him to the Quezon City Jail past 8 a.m. after having a physical examination at the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame.

Rodica, who was rearrested in his hometown of Naujan,  Occidental Mindoro last April, had also escaped from his security escorts last December while on his way to a hearing at the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula, director of the Quezon City Police District, has ordered a massive manhunt for the recapture of Rodica.

Rodica is the leader of the “Rodica Gang,” whose members are former soldiers who prey on money changers.

Manila police arrested Rodica and Juanito Buton, a former member of the Marines, for allegedly robbing the Triple-S Money Changer shop in Ermita.

Buton was able to post bail, but Rodica was committed to the Manila City Jail on the strength of an arrest warrant implicating him in the killing of the two policemen which is a non-bailable offense.

Rodica and his police escorts — Senior Police Officer 2 Serafin Castellano and Police Officers 3 Juanito Felices and Randy Dangaap — came from Camp Crame after the suspect’s physical examination and were on their way back to the Quezon City Jail.

The police car was cruising at the northbound lane of the EDSA underpass in Cubao when the vehicle was blocked by a Toyota Revo and a Mitsubishi Adventure. Both getaway vehicles have no license plates.

Four hooded men armed with M-16 rifles and handguns alighted from the Adventure and disarmed the three policemen and took the key from the patrol car then took Rodica and transferred the suspect to the Toyota Revo then fled.

Senior Superintendent Federico Laciste Jr., QCPD deputy director for operations, said coordination has been made with the National Bureau of Investigation and PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to recapture Rodica.

Rodica’s group was behind a number of robbery cases, including the robbery of a money changer in Cubao in July 2006 where they also killed one person, for which he is facing criminal charges at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 224.

The group has been involved in similar activities in Madaluyong and Manila and other areas outside the metropolis and has reportedly amassed loot worth around P100 million.

Laciste said an investigation will also be conducted to determine if there were lapses by the suspect’s police escorts.