STAR deskman, 6 others robbed

A STAR deskman and six other passengers were held up inside a passenger jeepney by two knife-wielding robbers during a heavy downpour Wednesday night in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

STAR deskman Nelson de Guzman said the two suspects, who were apparently high on drugs, boarded a Monumento-bound passenger jeepney at the corner of Bulacan street and immediately announced a heist. After divesting the passengers of cash and valuables, the two got off the vehicle, De Guzman said.

At the Blumentritt police outpost, the victims identified one Joseph Tiamson, alias “Erap,” from the police rogue gallery as one of the robbers. However, Tiamson turned out to be in detention at the Manila City Jail after he was arrested months ago.

The STAR learned that a number of robberies perpetrated near Bulacan street remain unsolved, with the public blaming the Blumentritt police outpost – which has jurisdiction over the area – for not doing anything about the crimes.

A source told The STAR an upsurge of robberies has been noted in the Blumentritt area since the police outpost commander has ceased to make himself available to the public. Senior Inspector Primitivo Gutierrez is set to retire on Nov. 11 and reportedly does not want to get involved in police operations that may jeopardize his retirement. De Guzman and his companions failed to talk with Gutierrez when they filed their complaint since he was reportedly not around at the time.

“Even his men were already demoralized and seem to be lax in their service since their commander is always inside his room, whiling his time away,” the source said. According to him, officials due to retire should be placed on non-duty status since they are already considered “deadwood.”  

Gutierrez, the older brother of City Hall detachment chief Senior Superintendent Alex Gutierrez, is reportedly getting special privileges due to his connection. The STAR also noted that vendors obstruct the facade of the Blumentritt outpost and seemed to be enjoying police protection.

Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula directed his anti-crime operatives, led by Inspector John Guiagui, to flush out the suspected criminals along Bulacan street.