Husband-wife robbery tandem caught in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - Following reports of taxi drivers robbed by a man and his wife, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested Thursday night a couple who allegedly staged heists together over the years.

Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo, who heads the QCPD’s District Police Intelligence Operating Unit, said Ronald and Belinda Octavio were armed with bladed weapons when they were arrested on Congressional Avenue in Barangay Bahay Toro, reportedly just before they were to stage another hit.

“They’re so notorious that they have been included in our COPLAN (case operation plan). Our information showed that at least eight incidents of robbery have been reported that were said to have been staged with the same type of suspects,” Pedrozo told The STAR in an interview.

Following their arrest, their latest victim – 69-year-old cabbie Domingo Aguilar Jr. – identified the Octavios as the ones who robbed him before dawn Wednesday. He said the suspects took P2,700 and his cell phone.

When Domingo reported the incident to the police station, he found out that there were indeed similar robberies in the past. Pedrozo said two other cabbies said a couple also robbed them.

With a tip from an informant, a police team led by Inspector Genaro Martinez and composed of Police Officers 2 Jocel Calvario, Jerry Godes and Benjie Parce arrested the Octavios, who turned out to reside in the area where they were dropped off by Domingo.

Calvario said the Octavios reportedly usually pick aging cabbies, who would not be able to fight back, and ask to be brought to the area where they live. According to Godes, the suspects left the area to avoid apprehension after their past heists and just came back recently.

The Octavios admitted the charges and claimed they became involved in robbery after they were unable to land any jobs to support their three children.

Ronald, 31, and Belinda, 34, talked to The STAR Friday and said they had both been imprisoned in the past for robbery and theft.

Following the arrest of the Octavios, Pedrozo called on other robbery victims, specifically cabbies, to file charges against the two suspects.