2 nabbed for Binondo jewelry store robbery

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested yesterday two of eight men who allegedly robbed a jewelry store in Binondo, Manila.

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said Arvin Pizarro, 23; and Dakila Villarta, 25, were identified by witnesses through footage taken by a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera installed at the Gold Dazz Marketing at the corner of Ongpin and Alonzo streets.

At least eight men, armed with semi-automatic weapons and believed to be members of the “Martilyo (Hammer) Gang,” barged into the store and smashed the jewelry glass stands. Within five minutes, the suspects were able to take an undetermined amount of jewelry and escape unmolested.

The heist was staged just before the Pacquiao-Margarito bout.

Police said the gang is notorious for striking even in broad daylight by smashing with bolts and hammers the display stands of their intended victims, mostly jewelry shops. They are armed with high-powered weapons and strike in groups of eight to 15.

Last Sunday’s heist prompted Rongavilla to revamp the leadership of the 11 police stations in the city. The new station commanders are Superintendent Ernesto Tendero Jr. for Raxabago, Tondo; officer-in-charge Chief Inspector Daniel Buyao for the Moriones area, Superintendent Jomar Modequillo for Sampaloc, Superintendent Felipe Cason for Ermita, Superintendent Rogelio Rosales Jr. (Sta. Ana), Superintendent Rizaldy Yap (Sta. Mesa), Superintendent Frumencio Bernal (Malate), Superintendent Roderick Mariano (Pandacan) and Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante (Binondo).