3 jeepney rob suspects caught

Three men the police believe to be behind the rash of robberies of passenger jeepneys plying the Marikina City-Antipolo City route were arrested yesterday hours after they allegedly robbed seven passengers of their wallets, jewelry, and cell phones.

Marikina police chief Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr. said Bryan Hamoy, 26, the alleged leader; Florante Lazo, 37; and Alfredo Duran – all residents of Cogeo, Antipolo City – did not resist arrest.

Ramos said the suspects yielded seven cell phones, wallets, jewelry and three bladed weapons.

Chief Inspector Earl Castillo, chief of the Marikina City Police-Criminal Investigation Division (CID), said that prior to their arrest, the group victimized seven passengers in the jeepney (PVA-721) driven by Julito Paller at 8:30 a.m. along Marcos Highway in Barangay Barangka.

The suspects then fled towards Bonifacio Avenue. The victims reported the robbery to Police Community Precinct 14, which conducted a follow-up operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspects along Bonifacio Avenue.

 At the police station, the suspects admitted robbing Paller’s passengers and that they are also responsible for the series of robberies of passenger jeepneys plying the Cubao to Antipolo route. – Non Alquitran