7 nabbed for Hot Babe's slay

Police arrested during a raid in Pateros Saturday seven men, suspected members of the “Sako Gang,” who allegedly killed Viva Hot Babe Scarlet Garcia and who may have been responsible for other high-profile crimes in Metro Manila, Rizal and Central Luzon.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad said they first arrested alleged gang leader Benny Crisologo, alias David Guerrero, 23; as well as Angelito Reyes, 35; Jerry Ugtuhan, 22; Ernesto Ruperto, 22, and Edwin Ruperto, 35.

Palad said they recovered from the suspects a .45-caliber pistol, a .9mm pistol, a hand grenade and stolen items such as a Nintendo Playstation, a Max Steel electronic vault, a Statr safety vault, several handicams and digital cameras, and passports in the name of Leonard, Leonida and Russell John, all surnamed Nepomoceno.

Aside from the killing of Garcia and three others in Olongapo City last March 12, 2008, the Sako Gang members also reportedly robbed and raped at least one woman in Dinalupihan, Bataan in February 2008; two women visiting a resident of Villa Corazon in San Fernando, Pampanga on April 5, 2008; and Medical City clerk Cherry Painaga, 23, in San Joaquin, Pasig City on Oct. 7, 2008. The suspects allegedly killed Painaga after raping her.

Palad said the five suspects were arrested after they allegedly robbed Florencia Nalangan, a 51-year-old widow, of P5,000 and P133,000 in jewelry and valuables on Jan. 8.

Nalangan said the suspects entered her house in Barangay San Juan in Taytay, Rizal. They introduced themselves as policemen searching for an unlicensed firearm. She said once the suspects were in her house, they took out their handguns and robbed her.

The suspects then escaped in a white Nissan Sentra (ZHK-227). As they were leaving, they noticed two men looking at them. Two of the suspects alighted from the car and started shooting at Romeo Amistoso, Jr., 29, who was seated in Nalangan’s Isuzu Elf soft drinks delivery truck parked in front of her house, and Rodante Salud, 34, a helper, who was standing beside the vehicle.

Amistoso was hit in the shoulder and Salud in the right foot.

Upon receiving a report on the robbery, Taytay police chief Superintendent Manuel Pion directed intelligence officer SPO2 Rogelio Marundan to coordinate with the Land Transportation Office to identify the owner of the suspects’ getaway vehicle. LTO records showed it was owned by Edna Sanchez of P. Rosales street in Pateros.    

Last Saturday, Marundan traced Sanchez, who said Reyes rented her car for P1,000 on the day Nalangan was robbed by the suspects.

Police teams headed by Pion and Superintendent Alfredo Paje, Pateros police chief, arrested Reyes, who admitted his involvement in the robbery and led lawmen to his four companions. Two other men – Alvin Ugtuhan, 19, and Ariel Samonte, 35 – who were with the suspects at the time of the raid on their safehouse, were invited for questioning.

Palad commended Senior Superintendent Ireneo Dordas, Rizal police director, and Pion for a job well done. Palad also appealed to the gang’s victims to pursue the cases against them until they are convicted for their crimes.