Police bust 6-man Quirino robbery gang

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Six members of a robbery group, whom police also tagged as vault cutter gang, were arrested by authorities in a remote Quirino town over the weekend, which also led to the recovery of around P.3 million, believed to be part of the group’s loot, the regional police office here said.

Cagayan Valley police director Chief Superintendent Ameto Tolentino said that the arrest of the group, led by a former Army man, came after the Dipaculao (Aurora) police tipped off their counterparts in neighboring Dinapigue town, Isabela and Quirino province around 11 a.m. Thursday that the wanted group may have fled to their areas of responsibility.

 In response, Tolentino said the Quirino police office led by Senior Superintendent Romualdo Zingapan, immediately alerted all police units in the province, especially in Nagtipunan and Maddela towns where checkpoints were set up for the anticipated entry of the gang members, who were on the run after they reportedly robbed a number of traders in remote Dipaculao town in Aurora.

 Police identified the arrested persons as Wilfredo Dio-alan, 43; Arthur Burda, 38, both of Benguet; Oliver Padal-a, 31, of Baguio City; Eduardo Dagiw-e, 37; Mark Tica-a, 53, both from Mountain Province; and Marlon Talagtag, 29, of Ifugao. Reports said that they were on board a red Toyota Innova when police flagged them down near the Aurora-Quirino boundary in Nagtipunan town.

Dio-alan alias Butch Botinguey, the alleged gang leader, the report also indicated, was a former Army enlisted personnel and also used to be with the Civilian Armed Force for Geographical Unit. According to police, he has a pending case of robbery before the Baguio court.

Besides P248,000 cash, which police believed to be part of their loot, also recovered from the group, believed to be behind a series of robbery incidents in the region and Aurora province, includes a 12-gauge shotgun and a .45 cal. pistol with ammunition.