Man racks up 25 robbery raps, 5 arrest warrants

MANILA, Philippines - A man arrested for breaking into a house in Valenzuela City Monday has at least 25 charges filed against him in three cities and five arrest warrants in three other cities, some dating back to 2004, officials said yesterday.

Rustico Canlas, 51, reportedly a resident of Dapitan, Manila, has 11 cases filed against him with the Manila Police District, nine in Valenzuela and five in Malabon.

Valenzuela police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento told The STAR the cases in Valenzuela and Malabon were filed this year alone, including the robbery charge for allegedly burglarizing the house of a Valenzuela City government employee last Monday.

Canlas is also the subject of arrest warrants issued by Quezon City courts for three counts of robbery; Pasig, one count, dating back to 2004; and Antipolo, one count, dating back to 2008, Armamento said.

Canlas was arrested by Police Officer 2 Joseph Melpaz, who was having breakfast at a nearby canteen when he saw the suspect about to ride his Toyota Corolla (PMY-904).

Melpaz said the police have been alerted about the car’s connection to several burglaries of posh homes in Valenzuela and he recognized Canlas’ face and build – the suspect is heavyset and stands 6’2” tall – from several closed-circuit television videos of the burglaries.

Malabon police chief Senior Superintendent Severino Abad Jr. ordered the investigation section to check the records of complaints of robberies with the same modus operandi.

Canlas admitted that he does not choose a particular target in advance – he just goes into a house, checks if the occupants are out, then ransacks it, Armamento said.

“If the residents are inside, he poses as a policeman looking for some fictitious persons and shows off his homemade gun. If he senses trouble, then he pulls it out and threatens them,” he added.

He said they are also checking on Canlas’ fences, reportedly based in Arranque market in Manila.