Cops nab would-be ‘Robin Hood’ in Mandaluyong

A robbery suspect’s desire to be known as the “Robin Hood” of Barangay Barangka backfired when the Mandaluyong City police found out he was distributing P500 bills to his neighbors two days after allegedly robbing a drugstore of P138,000.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo dela Cruz said the police were facing a blank wall in their efforts to solve the July 21 robbery of the South Star Drugstore at the corner of Boni Avenue and Barangka Drive until they received a tip that Erwin Rodriguez, 29, was shelling out crisp P500 bills to his neighbors. Rodriguez is jobless and has no permanent source of income.

“It was Rodriguez who spilled the beans on the whereabouts” of his three other companions: Jay Lord Mendiola, 19; his cousin, Allan Mendiola, 27; and Michael Payag, 20, Dela Cruz said.

He said the drugstore employees identified the four suspects yesterday as the ones who robbed them.

Dela Cruz said the suspects have previous criminal records and are all members of the dreaded Sigue-Sigue Sputnik robbery gang, as evidenced by the tattoos found on their bodies.

Rodriguez has a pending warrant of arrest before a Mandaluyong court for robbery while Jay Lord was previously arrested for the same offense.

However, the four suspects vehemently denied involvement in the drugstore robbery saying they have reformed.

Dela Cruz ordered the filing of the robbery charges against the four men before the Mandaluyong prosecutor’s office.   – Non Alquitran