One of the suspects in an Internet shop robbery in Laguna last Sunday was arrested the following day and pointed to a son of the mayor of Pila town as an alleged accomplice.
The suspect, William Mercado, 27, named his alleged accomplices during tactical interrogation as Mark Nino Quiat, Ernani Santos and a certain Kiko and Toto, all residents of United San Pedro Subdivision, Barangay San Antonio, San Pedro town.
Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Laguna provincial director, said Mark Nino is a son of Pila Mayor Wilfredo Quiat.
Rojas said the suspects reportedly belong to the United San Pedro gang, tagged as behind the rash of robbery-holdups, akyat-bahay incidents and carjackings in the province.
The gang members barged into the Internet shop in Sta. Rosa City and brandishing guns and knives, announced the heist at around 3:30 a.m.
One of the suspects approached the shop’s caretaker, Jerry Foronda, 18, and divested him of his wallet containing P600.
While the suspects were tinkering with the computers, the alarm sounded, prompting them to flee on a black Honda VTI with license plate XTH 866.
Rojas said the suspects opened fire as they drove past a checkpoint put up by the Provincial Mobile Group upon getting the robbery report.
An hour later, pursuing policemen recovered the getaway vehicle abandoned at the Cabuyao Central Subdivision in Barangay Pulo, Cabuyao town with its back windshield shattered and right rear tire busted.
A check showed the car was registered under the name of Mark Nino who was listed as residing at United San Pedro Subdivision in Barangay San Antonio, San Pedro, Laguna, Rojas said.
Mercado did not resist arrest when he was cornered in his home at the United San Pedro Subdivision.
Police are set to file appropriate charges against Mercado and his cohorts before the Sta. Rosa prosecutor’s office. – With Ed Amoroso