Stolen ATM recovered; charges readied

MANILA, Philippines - Police recovered yesterday in Malasiqui, Pangasinan the automated teller machine (ATM) stolen from a gasoline station in Muntinlupa City last June 17.

This developed as robbery charges are now being readied against the eight armed suspects who forcibly took the machine installed at Shell station on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) early morning Wednesday.

Police said the machine was dumped by robbers in Sitio Dilan, Barangay Lunec in Malasiqui.

In a report to Superintendent Frankie Candelario, Malasiqui police chief, Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, said they immediately coordinated with the Bank of the Philippine Islands in Muntinlupa for the return of the ATM.

Barba said they suspected that the dumping of the machine happened at the height of heavy rains as residents nearby heard a loud noise created by a heavy metal object.

Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias, Muntinlupa police chief, said robbery charges would be filed against the Alvin Flores group identified as the one that took away the cash machine from its booth stationed at the Shell gasoline station in Barangay Putatan last Wednesday at about 3 a.m.

Jamias said security guard Elpidio Jungco Jr. positively identified Flores and one Timothy Carpentero as two of those who conducted the heist.

The suspects were carrying long firearms which they used in threatening Jungco and the other security guards.

“Flores sometimes uses a different name such as Alvin Reyes or ‘alias Bunso’ and has led operations not only here in Metro Manila but in other provinces also,” Jamias said.

A follow-up operation has already been launched against the group.

The L-300 van used by the suspects was later found by policemen abandoned at the boundary of Biñan and San Pedro, Laguna.

“The vehicle they used was a carnapped vehicle. The group stole it the same morning somewhere in Biñan a few hours before their operation,” Jamias said.

Initial investigation showed that the suspects were on board a white van parked near the Bank of the Philippine Islands ATM. – Eva Visperas, Rhodina Villanueva