5 alleged rob gang members fall

MANILA, Philippines - Five alleged members of the Ozamis robbery gang – two of them women – were arrested in a rented room in Cubao, Quezon City yesterday following intelligence reports that a robbery was supposed to happen in the city.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega said two Uzi submachine guns, a .45 caliber handgun, a .38 caliber revolver and plastic cords used for tying up their victims were confiscated from Carlo Sanchez, 23; Michael Dompor, 27; Roger Gallego, 28; Riza Singson, 29; and Angelie Antonio, 18.

Dela Vega said Sanchez is from Barangay Bangkal, Guada in Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental.

QCPD Station 7 commander Superintendent Ramon Pranada, whose men arrested the suspects, said the QCPD had information that a robbery was going to be staged even before the suspects were caught.

Leading the way

Pranada said Gallego was accosted at a checkpoint at past 2 p.m. in Barangay E. Rodriguez, about 100 meters away from the group’s alleged safehouse. He was driving a motorcycle that did not have license plates and was not wearing a helmet.

“He ran off instead of surrendering,” Dela Vega told reporters. He said Gallego inadvertently led police officers to the rented room along Harvard street where the other suspects, then still sleeping, were found.

QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said they were hunting down three more alleged members of the gang.

Past robberies

The Ozamis robbery gang was reportedly named because many of its members are believed to be from this city. Police said Diosdado Alferez allegedly led the gang, which has been tagged in a bank robbery along Commonwealth Avenue last year and a heist at the Land Bank of the Philippines’ West Avenue branch a few years ago.

According to court records, gang member Ricky Cadavero was convicted for the West Avenue bank robbery. He has also been linked to the Alabang Town Center robbery last month.

Pranada said Dompor admitted to helping rob six rice stores and groceries in Caloocan. He also said Dompor and Sanchez are each claiming the other is the leader of the group.