FX taxi robbers eyed in De Lima aide's slay

MANILA, Philippines - Investigators are eyeing the members of a robbery gang, which uses FX taxis to trap their victims, as principal suspects in the killing of a security aide of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima last May.

Parañaque police recovered on Tuesday night a Mitsubishi Adventure (TXO-215) believed to have been used to rob and kill Alister Aquino of the DOJ’s Intelligence Service Operations Group (Isog) before his body was dumped in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

“Investigation revealed that (Aquino) rode a passenger UV Express in Antipolo before he was found dead,” said Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, director of the Southern Police District.

The recovery of the vehicle was part of the Parañaque police’s continuous operation against the “UVX Tirador Gang,” whose members make their vehicles appear to be FX taxis in order to trap and rob passengers.

Ten of their gang members have been arrested last week.

Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran, city police chef, said they were conducting a follow-up investigation when they received information that the van Aquino rode in could be found along Banner street in Fourth Estate Subdivision, also in Parañaque.

The vehicle, which plies the route of Antipolo, was borrowed by the gang on the pretense that it will be used by a foreign client.

Beltran said they are in the process of establishing who killed Aquino. Police are also hopeful that they may recover the firearm used.

The National Bureau of Investigation has also joined the probe.