Suspected rob gang member nabbed in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - Another alleged member of a robbery and kidnap syndicate was arrested Friday afternoon in Caloocan City, police said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Leonardo Espina announced the arrest of Camelo Soler, an alleged member of the Alferez Gang, a group linked to bank robberies in Metro Manila and Davao City.

Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Rimas Calixto said Soler, 41, was arrested by operatives monitoring an alleged safehouse of the group in San Vicente Ferrer, Barangay 178 in Camarin, North Caloocan.

Calixto said Soler was arrested after police officers noticed a gun tucked in his waistband when he tried to pick something up in front of the house.

Confiscated from Soler were a .38 caliber revolver loaded with six bullets, a hand grenade, and a loaded short magazine assembly for an M-16 rifle.

Calixto said Soler will be charged with illegal possession of firearms and violating the election gun ban.

On Wednesday, Eddie dela Cruz – another alleged member of the group – died in a grenade explosion in another alleged safehouse in Deparo, also in North Caloocan.

The explosion, which was followed by gunfire, was believed to have been caused by a disagreement over the sharing of the loot.

Diosdado Alferez, the alleged leader of the syndicate, and his two companions – identified as Jimmy Parame and Jerry dela Cruz – escaped from the Deparo safehouse using a Toyota Hi-Ace, which was found abandoned in San Pedro, Laguna on Thursday.

Police recovered a 12-gauge shotgun, hundreds of bullets, assorted license plates, military uniforms, metal spikes, and swords from the house.

Authorities brought in for questioning other occupants of the house, including registered midwife Nancy Talose and Lovely Porras, the supposed babysitter of Talose’s two-year-old son.

Caloocan City prosecutor Darwin Cañeta recommended the filing of illegal possession of firearms charge against Talose, who introduced herself as Alferez’s private nurse, and set bail at P80,000.