10 robbery gang members apprehended in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY — Police arrested the other day 10 suspected members, including an Army soldier and a woman, of an organized crime syndicate believed behind a series of robbery-holdups in parts of Mindanao.

Senior Superintendent Graciano Mijares, Iligan City police chief, said police placed the group under surveillance after a money-lending shop here was robbed last month.

Police said the gang was also responsible for recent holdups in the cities of Dipolog, Cagayan de Oro and Pagadian, Aurora town in Zamboanga del Sur, and other areas in Mindanao.

Police said gang members were spotted here last Friday supposedly while they were about to rob at least two establishments.

The gang members were cruising the highway leading to Barangay Suarez on board a rented car and two motorcycles when law enforcers accosted them.

Police said they did not resist arrest. Seized from them were six caliber .45 pistols, the two motorcycles, cigarettes believed to be marijuana, and a gray Toyota Corolla rented from one Floro Villacampo.

The 10 suspects were identified as Raymundo Arela, suspected leader of the holdup gang; Pfc. Elson Maghinay, assigned to the Army’s 5th Infantry Battalion; Jane Neri, Roger Camposo, Geran Cadungog, Josel Dionsay, Junji Dagohoy, Isidore Ihao, Ruel Sadernas, and Narciso Tagaloguin.