Quick heist, quick arrest for 2 Marikina robbers

Two of three robbers who barged into a man’s house in Marikina City after he opened the gate to take his young daughter to school were arrested by the police on Tuesday.

Recovered from Paul Baluyot and Ruel Victorino, residents of A. Luna Street in Malinao, Pasig City, were the victim’s Suzuki Swift car, two cell phones worth P35,000, a laptop, perfume and gift checks of a still undetermined value.

Both were arrested just minutes after they left the house of the victim, Marlon Tagum, on General Ordoñez Street in Marikina Heights, Marikina City around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. A third robber, who has yet to be identified, managed to escape.

According to PO3 Rodrigo Febreo of the Marikina police, the pair also yielded a .38-cal. Smith and Wesson firearm and a .45-cal. pistol taken from a previous victim, retired military colonel Jesus Jaymalin, whom they robbed using the same modus operandi in November.

Febreo said the robbers entered Tagum’s house, introducing themselves as police officials, after he opened the gate to drive his seven-year-old daughter to school.

However, they later declared a heist, ransacked the house and then fled on board Tagum’s car.

The police, however, gave chase and cornered them after Tagum immediately called them up to report the robbery.