Quezon City cops catch 4 'bus-hopping' robbers

MANILA, Philippines – Four “bus-hopping” robbery suspects were arrested by policemen yesterday afternoon after a chase that started from Quezon City Memorial Circle and ended along Edsa in Cubao.

The four suspects transferred from one bus to another in an apparent attempt to avoid arrest after they allegedly robbed passengers of an FX taxi, said Chief Inspector Ritchie Claravall, head of the Quezon City Police District-City Hall Complex Police Office.

“Right after we received the complaint, our policemen tailed them during a chase that reached all the way up to Cubao,” Claravall told The STAR in an interview.

Police Officer 3 Frederick Remetio identified the suspects as Albert Salvador, Angelo Melgario, Jhunel Mililia and Kurt Santos. They are facing robbery charges.

Remetio told reporters they recovered from the suspects three fan knives, a .380 caliber handgun, and items suspected to be stolen: four cellular phones, two wallets, a ring, a wristwatch, a high-end bag and P1,000.

The incident reportedly happened at past 2 p.m. in an FX taxi from Taft Avenue bound for Fairview.

The suspects boarded the vehicle along Timog Avenue and declared the heist along Quezon Memorial Circle near the city hall. The suspects reportedly hurt one of the four passengers who refused to give up her cellular phone. Right after that, the suspects got off the vehicle.

The four victims immediately reported the incident to the QCPD-CHCPO and, when policemen went to the site, the FX taxi driver told them the suspects had boarded a Jayross Lucky Seven bus.

SPO1 Rodentor Fajardo, who was part of the arresting team, said three patrol cars went after the suspects and checked practically all the buses on the road.

“There was a commotion when we were approaching each of the buses along East Avenue and Edsa,” Fajardo told reporters.

They found out upon reaching the area near the Land Transportation Office along East Avenue that the suspects had transferred to an Elena bus. Policemen continued tailing and checking on the buses until they reached Edsa, where they found out that the suspects had transferred to another Jayross Lucky Seven Bus.

Along Edsa in Cubao, policemen caught up with a bus from the same liner. Its conductor discreetly told them that four men had indeed boarded the bus.

The victims, who had joined the police in going after the suspects, then identified the four suspects.