MANILA, Philippines—Four men who allegedly robbed a drugstore in Mandaluyong City on Monday were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday after one of them did a “Robin Hood,” distributing P500 bills to his neighbors.
Police said the four suspects—Jaylord Mendiola, 19, Allan Mendiola, 27, Erwin Rodriguez, 29, and Michael Payag, 20—were presented to Eastern Police District director, Chief Supt. Leon Nilo dela Cruz Wednesday
All four are residents of the village of Barangka, Mandaluyong and are believed to be members of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik robbery gang, the police said. They had also been charged previously with robbery.
Dela Cruz said in an interview that the four men were picked up one by one by Mandaluyong policemen in follow-up operations between 3 p.m. Tuesday and 1 a.m. yesterday.
The four are believed to be behind the robbery of the South Star Drugstore located on Barangka Drive corner Boni Avenue on Monday.
The thieves, according to the drugstore employees, made off with more than P130,000 in cash .
Dela Cruz said the Mandaluyong police arrested Rodriguez after receiving a tip that he was handing out P500 bills to his neighbors and even passersby.
Through Rodriguez, they were able to track down the three other suspects.
All four were positively identified by the drugstore employees as the men who had robbed the establishment.
Dela Cruz said he has already ordered the filing of robbery charges against the four at the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office.
In English folklore, Robin Hood was an outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.