2 rob suspects caught in anti-crime drive

The police arrested one of Manila’s most wanted fugitives and his cohort during an anti-crime operation in Binondo, Manila early Tuesday morning.

Edgar Rioferio, 34, alias “Tabobo,” and Arsenio Cuizon, 35, were arrested while in the act of illegally tapping electricity from a Meralco post in Parola Compound.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales has ordered a heightened routine patrol and surveillance of the Parola Compound following reports of robberies, drug pushing and illegal tapping of electricity in the area.

Rioferio was tagged by residents as the leader of a group engaged in making illegal power connections in the Parola Compound, according to Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut.

During an investigation, police found out that Rioferio is allegedly an active member of the “Waray-Waray” robbery gang.

Rioferio has a warrant of arrest for murder issued by Manila regional trial court Judge Reynaldo Alhambra, Yabut said. Last Dec. 12, Rioferio was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by RTC Judge Teresa Sonieso for another case of murder committed in 2003, but was “mysteriously” released on Dec. 18, Yabut added.

Following his release, Rioferio teamed up with one Abdul Baset Malacao, a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front member, in criminal activities, Yabut said.

Rioferio and Cuizon admitted that at the time of their arrest, Malacao, who is also wanted for robbery, drug pushing and illegal power connection, was with them but managed to elude the police dragnet. Police seized Malacao’s vehicle, a gray Toyota Corolla (TCV-115), which he left in his haste to escape.

Yabut said he is verifying information that Rioferio had recently shot dead a pregnant woman after a quarrel over an illegal power connection. The victim’s family, however, did not bother to file charges after getting paid and out of fear of Rioferio.

Rioferio’s henchmen were also responsible for shooting Meralco linemen who tried to cut illegal power connection, Yabut said.       — Nestor Etolle