Alleged gang boss tagged in 6 robberies

MANILA, Philippines - A 23-year-old man, who reportedly leads a gang of at least seven men, has been linked to at least six robberies, Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said yesterday.

Jonathan Cuya, arrested last Tuesday, has been identified by the victims in these cases, Albano said.

The police official saw a thread connecting the cases: the attacks happened in the morning, when members of the household were preparing to leave home.

“The suspects would take advantage of this situation in staging their heists,” Albano said in a press conference.

The QCPD has also identified seven alleged members of Cuya’s gang: Raymond David, 23; Rodolfo Lalata, 23; Gino Juanchon, 26; Manolio Manguiddong, 46; “Ped,” 35; “Eddie,” 56; and “Leo.” They remain at large.

Albano said most of them hail from Sto. Cristo in Barangay Balingasa, Quezon City, where Cuya was arrested after he was seen boarding a Mitsubishi Gallant stolen from Benito Sison during a robbery at his house in Caloocan City in May. Five men barged into Sison’s house and hogtied those inside before taking off with a vault and Sison’s car, police said.

Cuya was also charged with illegal possession of firearms, QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said, for two .22 caliber Glock pistols seized from the suspect when he was arrested.

Pagdilao said Cuya and his gang face numerous charges of robbery, car theft and murder for the death of one of the victims. He said among the things recovered from the suspect was a police jacket that had apparently been used by the suspects in staging their heists.

Cables used to tie up victims

Victim Anthony Lim, who said Cuya and his gang ransacked his house in Barangay Laging Handa on June 18, said in an interview that “the suspects pulled out the electric cords and the phone lines and used them to hogtie us.” He said he lost cash and jewelry worth P1 million.

Albano said Cuya’s group was also the ones who robbed Edward Choy’s house on Hemady street in Barangay Mariana on May 16. Choy was killed during the robbery.

The QCPD chief also attributed a June 11 robbery in front of a tire shop along Roosevelt Avenue in Barangay Paraiso to Cuya’s gang. The identification card of the victim, Dennis Miranda, was recovered by policemen during a follow-up operation at a house in Caloocan City following Cuya’s arrest.

Albano also pointed to an April 12 break-in at a house on Scout Lazcano street, from which the suspects stole cash and jewelry worth around P500,000.

He also said Cuya’s group had robbed a house on Bagong Buhay street in Barangay Sto. Niño, since the victims’ identification cards were recovered from the same house in Caloocan City.