2 suspects tagged in P11-M Makati heist

MANILA, Philippines - Two of five persons arrested for robbing a Bureau of Customs (BOC) lawyer’s house in Quezon City were linked to an P11-million robbery at a house in Makati City, officials said yesterday.

Ephraim John Evangelista and John Mark Tamalla were identified by victim Ma. Lourdes Chua as among the eight armed men who barged into her house and hogtied the members of her household on June 25, said Inspector Alan dela Cruz, head of the theft and robbery investigation section of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

The suspects took 11 firearms, including rifles and shotguns, from Chua’s vault.

As they left the house, the suspects brought helpers Ranel Doniza and Marlon Macawili as “human shields” and told them to board Chua’s Mazda Friendee, while security guard Carlito Santos was inside Chua’s Ford Expedition.

The two helpers were abandoned in Rizal, along with the Friendee.  Macawili accused Santos and his son Christian of being in cahoots with the suspects as he saw the two with the armed men, even pointing guns at him.

The Expedition was found abandoned in Calamba, Laguna, with witnesses telling police that it was Santos who parked it there. Santos and his son, who are still at large, were the only ones who were initially charged for the armed robbery.

Evangelista and Tamalla were arrested July 27 along with Raul Hunat, Jackylene Cleto and Jomel Tamalla for allegedly robbing Julito Doria’s house last April 16 and robbing another BOC employee, Dennis Demesa, along Katipunan Avenue on July 26.