Suspect in Makati shootout willing to surrender

MANILA, Philippines - The alleged leader of the Onad carjacking gang has expressed willingness to surface to clear his name in last Thursday’s shootout in Makati City, which left two suspected carjackers and a policeman dead.

However, Ronaldo Santiago, 31, claimed he does not want to be taken into police custody as he “fears for his life.”

“I’m very willing to be placed under the custody of any government agency but not the police because I have so many bad experiences with them,” Santiago told The STAR in an interview.

Santiago decided to break his silence over the Makati shootout after National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima ordered a manhunt for him and his alleged gang members.

Purisima said they have witnesses claiming Santiago was with the suspected carjackers when they shot dead Police Officer 1 Mudzil Ali Balawag and wounded Chief Inspector Joselito Savares and a scavenger.

Santiago denied being involved in carjacking but admitted he bought stolen items from “Dave” and “MacMac,” who were killed in the Makati shootout.

“My only fault was being a fence of stolen items like laptop and hi-end cellular phones which I admit is illegal. But I’m not involved anymore in carjacking or any other crimes for more than two years now,” said Santiago. “I’m not a financier of criminal activity.”

According to Santiago, he bought laptops for P7,000 to P10,000 and sold them for P15,000 to P17,000 to “businessmen” in Greenhills, San Juan City and in Baclaran, Paranaque City. He also bought cellular phones for P3,000 to P5,000 and sold them for P7,000 to P9,000.

He said Dave and MacMac were introduced to him by a certain Pudong, who was wounded in a recent encounter with policemen in Muntinlupa City.

The NCRPO claimed Dave and MacMac were involved not only in carjacking, but also reportedly broke into homes and deliberately rear-ended cars so they could rob motorists and their passengers.

Santiago admitted starting out as a thief then turning to robbery when he teamed up with “Snake,” a neighbor in Pasay City. He said he broke away from Snake because the latter had a penchant for shooting their victims. Snake was killed early this year in a shootout with Pasay City policemen.

He said he has had several brushes with the law but earned his freedom each time by “buying his police captors.”

Torture

Santiago said members of the Southern Police District (SPD) arrested him in Makati City early this year over questions regarding the ownership of his vehicle.

“For two days and three nights I was subjected to torture. They covered my face with a plastic and also dripped salt water in my nose,” he said. “I thought I would not see my wife and six children anymore.”

While in captivity, Santiago said his captors applied for a search warrant and emptied his house of “merchandise” like cell phones, imported watches, jewelry and foreign currency. The SPD raiders also took along his properly documented firearms, he added.

Santiago and six others were also arrested by Pasay City and Bataan police officers in Cavite last year for carjacking. He said he posted bail on the “trumped up” charges filed against him.

The alleged gang leader said he is willing to face all the charges police filed against him.