Cops bust 1 of 3 robbery 'cells' tagged in UP heist

MANILA -- The arrest of five suspects has neutralized one of three “cells” whose members collaborated in a series of heists in Metro Manila, including the attack on an armored van at the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus, an official said yesterday.

Police are now on an expanded manhunt against members of the two remaining cells who have reportedly fled to the provinces following the arrest of suspects Edgar Cayanan, Dionisio Espina, Benjamin Conteno, Armando Dehino, and Jocelyn Hernandez.

Superintendent Val de Leon, chief of the Regional Police Intelligence Operating Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office, yesterday identified Dehino – alias Dondon – as the leader of one of the cells of robbers behind the series of heists in the metropolis.

“There are various cells in this group of robbers. They just come together every once in a while if there’s an operation... With the arrest of Dondon and his members, we have neutralized one of the three cells,” he said.

Senior Superintendent Federico Laciste Jr., deputy director for operations of the Quezon City Police District, said the members of the other cells have moved to their home provinces, mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao, to evade arrest.

QCPD Intelligence Division chief Superintendent Bernabe Balba said they also received information that “some members of the group have reportedly become interested in the P700,000 reward” to turn their cohorts in.

According to De Leon, charges of illegal possession of firearms and robbery and homicide against the four male suspects had earlier been filed.

Yesterday, police filed robbery in band with violence or intimidation of persons and three counts of frustrated murder against Hernandez. She was earlier charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions following her arrest.

Metro Manila police chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil said Hernandez allegedly acted as a lookout for Dehino’s group when they robbed an armored van in the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus last Nov. 10.

He said members of Dehino’s group disguise themselves as police or military agents to stage bank robberies.

Bataoil added that witnesses’ accounts as well as surveillance camera footage show that Hernandez was involved in the United Coconut Planters Bank-E. Rodriguez Avenue robbery on Oct. 15, 2007; Land Bank of the Philippines-West Avenue robbery last Jan. 22; Market! Market! heist last July 11; and the UP heist   – Reinir Padua, Non Alquitran