5 suspected members of Ozamiz rob group arrested in QC
By Julie M. AurelioPhilippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Five suspected members of the Ozamiz robbery group were collared on Monday afternoon after one of their members was chased by Quezon City policemen while fleeing from a checkpoint.
The suspects – three men and two women – were still being interrogated by Quezon City Police District investigators following their arrest at a house on Harvard Street, Barangay E. Rodriguez in Cubao.
Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega, QCPD director, said one of the men was accosted at a checkpoint while riding a motorcycle without any license plate.
“The man sped off when our policemen flagged him down, so we chased him for around 100 meters,” he told reporters.
The suspect, identified as Roger Gallego, later ran inside an apartment building and into a “safehouse” on the second floor where his four companions were.
“They were really caught unaware, they were even napping on mats when we got there,” said the Cubao police station commander, Superintendent Ramon Pranada. His men conducted the checkpoint.
Aside from Gallego, the others were identified as Carlos Sanchez, Michael Dumpor, and Melissa Singson.
Gallego told police investigators that there was another motorcycle driving beside him, but only he was flagged down at the police checkpoint.
The robbery group has been tagged as behind the recent armored van robbery at the Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City, and a bank robbery at the Bank of the Philippine Islands along Commonwealth Avenue.
Pranada said they received a tip last week that the Ozamiz group would strike in Metro Manila sometime this week.
Seized from the suspects were two Uzi machine pistols, a caliber .45 pistol, a caliber .38 revolver, several bullets, cellphones, and aluminum foil.
Chief Inspector Rodelio Marcelo of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said the raiding team also recovered several cable ties to be used in tying up their victims.
Dela Vega said the seized items were found inside the suspects’ “safehouse” after the arrest.
The police official added that they were still verifying the guns recovered as well as the suspects’ identities.
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