Robbery-extort gang leader arrested

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – A former Army soldier tagged as the alleged leader of an extortion gang who preys on foreign nationals was arrested in an entrapment operation in Candelaria, Quezon, Wednesday afternoon.

Ronnie Solber Manago, 38, an ex-Army corporal, was nabbed by Operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) 4A headed by Superintendent Roger James Brillantes, inside a foodchain at around 2:30 pm. One of Manago’s victims, a British couple – Elsa Dundee and her husband Stephen Martin – sought police assistance and filed complaint against Manago for robbery and extortion activities.

Brillantes said Manago who introduced himself as a New People’s Army rebel demanded P50,000 from the Dundees in exchange for their four-year-old son’s safety.

RSOG team was dispatched to conduct police operation against the suspect and was caught in the act of receiving the marked money from the victims when he was apprehended.

During investigation, Manago divulged the names of his cohorts, including the mastermind identified as Christina Aguilar who is now the subject of a  manhunt operations by the RSOG operatives.

Brillantes told The STAR that Manago’s gang which is operating in the Calabarzon region is also responsible for a series of robbery and extortions in Quezon province.        – Ed Amoroso