Alvin Flores gang behind Makati bank robbery

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Regional Police Office identified yesterday four members of the Alvin Flores robbery gang as among the eight men who robbed the Union Bank branch in Makati City Tuesday.

Witnesses identified the suspects, Alvin Flores, the gang leader himself; Roger Halasan; and a certain Mutya, and Ompong, a former Army soldier through the footage from a closed-circuit camera and the rouge gallery of the Makati City police, said Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

Rosales said the robbers were the same men involved in the botched robbery at the Union Bank in Caloocan City early this month. “We are still determining whether the group used the same tipster in the twin Union Bank branches robberies,” he said.

Rosales said at least 10 teams of operatives from the NCRPO headed by Superintendent Leo Francisco are now scouring Metro Manila and nearby provinces for Flores and his gang.

Francisco said it was the 6th heist committed by the said gang after 12 of their members were killed in an encounter in Parañaque City November last year.

Initial reports showed that Flores and four other gang members entered the bank located along Amorsolo St., in Legaspi Village at 1:41 p.m. Tuesday and announced the heist. Their three companions acted as lookouts.

At gunpoint, the robbers ordered the bank’s clients and employees to lie face down the floor while at the same time grabbing the cash from the bank cashiers.

The robbery was over in two to three minutes.

The robbers strafed the patrol car parked in front of the bank and fled towards Osmeña Superhighway on board a gray Suzuji ATV van.

Police said a passerby, identified only as Gerald, was hit by a stray bullet and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital. – Non Alquitran