Bundol Gang leader a cop?

MANILA, Philippines - A man tagged as the head of the Bundol Gang is claiming that a policeman is the real ringleader of their group.

A source from the Parañaque City police, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The STAR that Alan Aristorenas divulged “sensitive (pieces of) information” days before he and his three alleged cohorts were transferred to the Quezon City Jail.

The source said Aristorenas named “Arnold” of Eme de la Cruz street in Pasay City as the one who allegedly masterminded a series of carjackings and robberies in Metro Manila.

The source said the Bundol Gang’s area of operations cover Laguna province as well, and most of their victims are from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Some of the gang’s recent victims are the brother-in-law of former presidential daughter Luli Arroyo and the niece of Commission on Elections commissioner Elias Yusoph, the source said. 

‘Like a policeman’

The source said Aristorenas and Arnold are neighbors on Eme de la Cruz street in Pasay City. Arnold, estimated to be around 35 years old, “looks and moves like a policeman,” the source said, quoting Aristorenas. “He also bragged about being a former bodyguard of a politician but refused to name who.”

Arnold gives the group their specific assignments, said the source. He is also responsible for designating “spotters” at the airport to monitor the flight schedules and movements of prospective victims.

He is always accompanied by his reported right hand, Carlo, who lives in the same area. The source said this is why they prefer to call the group the Arnold-Carlo Gang instead of Bundol Gang.

Aristorenas joined the group in July. Since then, he has been tasked to recruit more members. “That’s why people tag him as the leader,” the source said. He decided to identify Arnold after the latter failed to “help him get out of jail.”

Rear-ending, running over

The group specifically targets victims in high-end vehicles and Arnold deploys about five to seven armed gang members during each heist.

The term “bundol” or bump refers to the group’s modus operandi of tailing the target vehicle from the airport, rear-ending the vehicle when it reaches an isolated area, and robbing its occupants.

“Their operation is not limited to rear-ending the victim’s car before robbing them. Sometimes, when the airport operation is not successful they would carry out the sagasa operation,” the source said.

Sagasa, which means running over something or someone, is when the group spots an expensive car on the road and grabs the chance to rob its passengers at gunpoint, the source said.

Aristorenas and Robert Bonzon were arrested at their hideout along Maricaban and M. Reyes streets in Pasay City on Nov. 10. Two other suspects, Felimon Borillo and Jeffrey Martinez, were nabbed in a separate operation in Parañaque.

The four were transferred from the Parañaque City Jail where they were charged with illegal possession of firearms, to Quezon City to face graver charges, including robbery and carjacking. The cases will be consolidated, said the source.

“He (Aritorenas) is willing to tell all but he is just scared because he was told that his family is being threatened already,” the source said.