Police arrest member of big-time robbery group

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged member of a big-time robbery group that has struck in Central Visayas and in Luzon was arrested by the police in Barangay Libunon, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur last week.

Arrested was Richard Daguman alias “Tangkag” who is allegedly a member of the Alferez-Monopollo robbery group that reportedly hit bingo clubs, among others, in Central Visayas this year.

Daguman was arrested by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch in Zamboanga del Sur and Tambulig Police Station last Saturday inside his residence.

The police were armed with a warrant of arrest against the suspect for the robbery case at Oro China Jewelry store in Tagbilaran, Bohol last 2011.  The Regional Intelligence Division-7 then implemented another two warrants of arrest against Daguman for being involved in the robbery of E-Bingo club in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and the E-Bingo Club in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, director of the Police Regional Office-7, said Daguman is already the third member of the said robbery group who they have arrested.

Other members, Mario Remetre and Ruel Remedios, were already caught.

Bañas said based in their investigation, the Alferez-Monopollo robbery group is indeed a big-time group allegedly involved in at least six robbery incidents in banks and other financial institutions in Bacolod, Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Quezon City and Manila.

Superintendent Rex Derilo, acting chief of the RID-7, said they will coordinate with the National Capital Region Police Office and encourage them to trace their records of robbery incidents that transpired in their jurisdiction since 2002 to 2014.

“So that they could go over the cases who were the personalities involved and since the three are already arrested, they can now proceed with the filing of the case,” said Derilo.

He said they are still tracking down around four or five members of the said robbery group whose names surfaced during tactical investigation.

“Sooner or later, we will get these criminals,” said Bañas. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/NSA (FREEMAN)