Public warned vs 'Bundol Gang'

MANILA, Philippines - The Eastern Police District (EPD) warned the public yesterday of a modus operandi being employed by a robbery group whose members tail travelers arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The EPD said the robbers intentionally rear-end (bundol) the vehicles used by the victims so they would stop. The robbers would then hijack the vehicles and dump their victims.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo called on the public to report the presence of any person resembling the robbers.

“We urge the general public to report to the nearest police station any sightings of the said suspects so they could be arrested and hauled to jail,” said Manalo, adding that several crack police teams are already scouring Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces for the suspects.

The first suspect was described to be between 40 to 45 years old; 5’10” to 6’ tall; muscular; brown-complexioned and wearing a hooded jacket and black pants.

He was identified by witnesses as one of the men who allegedly robbed businessman Jorge Bernas, a brother-in-law of former presidential daughter Luli Arroyo, last June 19 in Pasig City.

The second suspect was described as between 28 and 35 years old; 5’7” to 5’9” tall; fair-skinned and wearing a shirt and short pants.

He was tagged in the robbery of American national Frederick Allan Boutcher, 62, in Mandaluyong City last July 16.

Manalo said the robbers had apparently followed Bernas and Boutcher from the airport then commandeered their vehicles. He said the robbers usually operate in the predawn hours, the “weak points” of the police checkpoint operation.

“When their victims open their vehicle, one of the suspects, usually with a drawn gun, would approach them and announce the heist. When a gun is pointed in your direction, you usually obey all their orders,” he said.

One of the robbers would commandeer the victims’ vehicle and drive off to an area where they would dump the victims.

Bernas did not say how much he lost to the robbers but Boutcher, Manalo said, lost P2 million in cash, jewelry and important belongings.

The robbers are only after the money of their victims, said Manalo, noting that Bernas was shot because he tried to fight off the robbers.

The robbers usually strike in groups of four or five and are armed with a rifle and handguns, he said.

Senior Superintendent Mario Soriano, EPD’s deputy for operations and concurrent head of the Special Investigation Task Group Bernas, said they are hot on the trail of the suspects, who also struck in Pasay City and Manila recently.

According to Soriano, the Bernas incident was caught by a surveillance camera but the video footage caught only the backs of the robbers. The Boutcher incident was not caught by a spy camera, he added.

Manalo said they are investigating the possibility that the robbers connive with certain airport personnel as they appear to have advance information on travelers carrying large amounts of money.

Manalo called on travelers and their relatives not to open their car doors if they are bumped from behind by another vehicle. He said they should jot down the vehicle plate number of the offender, then proceed to the nearest police precinct or station to report the incident.