3 arrested for gas station robbery in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Police nabbed three of four men who allegedly robbed a gasoline station in Ermita, Manila Tuesday night.

Ermita police station chief Superintendent Jose Hidalgo Jr. presented yesterday before the media the three suspects identified as Alvin Lapeña, 38; Marlo Ordiales, 37; and Joel Larrios, 41. A fourth suspect, described as in his early 20s and at least 5’4” tall, is still the subject of a police manhunt, according to Hidalgo. A loaded .38 caliber revolver was recovered from the suspects.

Hidalgo said the suspects were identified by two employees of the gasoline station at the corner of San Marcelino street and Quirino Avenue in Ermita as the same men who held them up at around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The two employees told police they ran away out of fear since the suspects were armed with guns. When the suspects left, the employees said they reported the incident to the gasoline station owner, who found out that the suspects took a total of P10,351.

Upon receiving the report, Hidalgo tasked anti-crime unit chief SPO4 Carlos Chan to pursue the suspects. Responding policemen caught the three suspects walking along San Marcelino street near its intersection with Apacible street.

In the course of investigation, Lapeña, the leader of the group, admitted staging the heist at the gasoline station. He said the looted money is in possession of the fourth suspect.

Hidalgo said they are trying to find out whether the group had been involved in similar incidents in the past.

Police filed robbery charges against the suspects before assistant chief prosecutor Gerardo Sadsad.