Stolen car leads to gang boss’ downfall

MANILA, Philippines - A 23-year-old man accused of leading a robbery group, whose members hogtie their victims, was arrested after he was seen in possession of a car stolen from one of his group’s victims.

The man was arrested at his house in Barangay Balingasa on Tuesday night, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said.

He declined to name the gang boss, saying they are in the middle of follow-up operations to catch the man’s accomplices.

QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said the man was identified as one of five men who barged into the house of Benito Sison along McArthur Highway in Caloocan City in May.

The robbers hogtied three persons in Sison’s home and covered their mouths with packaging tape before taking Sison’s vault and driving off with his car, Pagdilao said.

Chief Inspector Roderick Tonga, head of the QCPD’s anti-car theft section, said they received information about the whereabouts of the car. He said they started a stakeout on Monday and policemen spotted the alleged gang boss boarding the stolen car Tuesday night.

Police officers seized two .22 caliber Glock pistols from the gang boss.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said they were checking victims of other robberies in the city to determine whether the robbery group victimized other households.