Cops seize arms, grenades from 3 robbery gang suspects

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Police District (MPD) presented yesterday three suspected members of the “Waray Waray-Ozamiz” robbery gang and a cache of firearms, ammunition and explosives seized from them.

The suspects were arrested when they robbed Malaysian national William Yeo, who owns a moneychanger shop in Ermita, Manila Monday.

Police believe the suspects are part of a group that figured in a running gunbattle with the police in Parañaque City on Dec. 5, 2008 that resulted in the death of 16 people, according to MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

He identified the suspects as Alfredo Mondares, 38, a former member of the Philippine Army; Reynante Roquero, 33; and Pamela Gio, 28.

Police seized two undocumented .45 caliber pistols from the suspects. The lawmen examined a Ford Lynx used by the suspects as a getaway car and found a .9mm Intratec machine pistol on the car floor. Inside the car’s trunk, police found a suitcase containing an M-16 Baby Armalite, two 12-gauge shotguns, three fragmentation grenades, six rifle grenades, two M203 40mm grenade launcher, four magazine clips for a .45 caliber pistol, six magazine clips for an Intratec machine pistol, 15 short magazine clips for an M16 rifle, one long magazine clip for an M16 rifle, three silencers for M16 rifles, one silencer for a machine pistol, one silencer for a .45 caliber pistol, 31 rounds for a shotgun, 160 rounds for a .45 caliber pistol, 850 rounds for a 5.56 caliber pistol, a black police jacket, a motorcycle jacket, three motorcycle helmets, three cell phones, and assorted SIM cards.

Charges of robbery and frustrated homicide, usurpation of authority, falsification of public and private documents and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were filed against the suspects.