4 charged in tabloid heist

Police filed yesterday charges of robbery in band against four members of the “Leyte-Samar Gang” who allegedly robbed the offices of tabloids Remate and Tiktik in Port Area, Manila.

The charge is a non-bailable offense, and Chief Inspector Benigno Macalindong, chief of the theft and robbery section of the Manila Police District, vowed they “will see to it that this group will rot in jail to prevent them from victimizing others.”

Suspects Jaime Obanel, 33; Ricky Montana, 33; and Jose Mañago, 38, were nabbed Wednesday morning at a squatters’ colony in Baseco Compound at Port Area, Manila. A fourth suspect, Noel Seneneng, 30, was arrested at a bus terminal in Sampaloc on his way to Olongapo City.

The police found a breakthrough in the case when the owner of one of the suspects’ getaway motorcycles, which stalled during their escape, presented himself to MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales and identified Mañago as his driver who uses the motorcycle to ferry passengers.

Mañago initially said the motorcycle was stolen Monday night, several hours before the heist, but later broke down and identified his companions. Mañago said he only acted as a driver of the group and got P5,000 as his share of the loot.

The police are still searching for two remaining suspects.

According to reports, six armed men barged into the offices of tabloids Remate and Tiktik in Port Area at around 2:15 a.m. and held up their night-shift employees.

The suspects took the P160,000 collections of Tiktik employees, then robbed Remate employees of P20,000 cash.

The tabloids’ employees, including a security guard, identified the suspects in a police lineup.

Macalindong said he is now coordinating with other police districts for the criminal profiles of the arrested suspects.