9 rob suspects nabbed in QC gun ban drive

MANILA, Philippines - Nine alleged robbers were arrested in Quezon City during the first days of the election gun ban.

Eight of the suspects were tagged in three separate robberies while one was arrested by police while tailing a potential victim, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano.

According to Albano, the suspects were arrested during separate operations that started on Sunday, when the gun ban took effect.

QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said the suspects are facing charges for robbery, illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

Pagdilao said some were also held for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law.

Albano said two of the suspects, Glen Ogdalla and Joel Retorte, were arrested for a robbery at a bakeshop along West Avenue on Saturday night.

QCPD Station 2 commander Superintendent Pedro Sanchez said the suspects were identified by shop employees through the rogues’ gallery.

Ogdalla and Retorte were reportedly caught sniffing shabu in Ogdalla’s house. Sanchez said Ogdalla was arrested on Dec. 22, 2012 for violating City Ordinance 5121, which penalizes the possession of deadly weapons, and has pending cases of attempted homicide and homicide at two local courts.

QCPD Station 3 commander Superintendent Michael Macapagal said Joseph Madrigal, Alberto Mariano, Raffy Morales and Arnel Bacus were arrested for allegedly robbing businesswoman Myrna Palero at a market in Barangay Unang Sigaw.

Police officers confiscated three .38 caliber revolvers, a bladed weapon and four sachets of shabu from the four suspects. Macapagal said they were eyeing the possible involvement of three of the suspects in previous bus and jeepney robberies along EDSA last year.

Also on Monday night, Macapagal’s men arrested Edwin Suarez and Bong Nova following a robbery at a fruit stand of sisters Teresita and Lucila Acoba along Mindanao Avenue. A .38 caliber revolver and a foot-long knife were confiscated from the two suspects.

The ninth suspect, Rex Roa, was arrested by a team from the QCPD-Station 6 on Monday night at the corner of Dupax Street and Commonwealth Avenue, said station commander Superintendent Ramon Pranada.

Pranada said his men were conducting surveillance in the area and spotted the suspect loitering there. They noticed a gun under Roa’s shirt.

They tailed the suspect until the latter followed a female student passing by. This prompted policemen to arrest Roa, who yielded a .38 caliber revolver.