MANILA, Philippines — Four suspected robbers were arrested after taking almost P13 million worth of luxury goods — including Gucci bags, Hermès perfume and Balenciaga shoes — last week from two condominium units in Quezon City owned by a celebrity public relations agent.
Bernard Cloma, owner of the two ransacked units on Mother Ignacia Avenue, and agent of Sen. Manny Pacquiao and comedian Vice Ganda, reported the heist to police on July 28.
Since then, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) followed a trail of clues that ultimately led to a series of arrests on Sunday, which were announced on Monday.
The four suspects, who also allegedly yielded firearms, “shabu” (crystal meth) and drug paraphernalia, were Jimwell Bondoc, 27; Eric Eulogio, 44; Pierre Lance Lansang, 28 and April Kyle Gonzales, 21.
The stolen designer goods included 12 watches worth P10 million; bags from Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Gucci, among others, worth P2 million; a Supreme backpack worth P250,000; shoes from Balenciaga, Fendi and Adidas worth P300,000; assorted perfumes worth P100,000; and an undetermined amount of cash.
A security guard interviewed by police at the condominium revealed that Bondoc had rented two units right before the robbery, the first between July 19 and 20 and the second from July 25 to 27.
Meticulously planned
Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., the QCPD chief, told reporters that the robbery was meticulously planned, and appeared to have involved Bondoc befriending Cloma and closely tracking his movements before executing the heist.
The security guard noted that Bondoc had always been fetched by a red Toyota Vios, even identifying the vehicle’s plate number. Police found the Vios was registered to a certain Dennis Co, a friend of Bondoc’s. But Co, the police said, was not a suspect.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit and Kamuning police station visited Co’s house on Del Monte Avenue, where they found Bondoc had left an assortment of wristwatches, jewelry and branded bags for safekeeping.
Acting on a tip from Co, the police traced Bondoc to the Paradise Hotel on Tomas Morato Avenue, where he was found with a 9mm pistol.
He was quickly accosted, the QCPD said in a report, then led the operatives to his hotel room, where Eulogio and Gonzales were allegedly using shabu. A .45-caliber Armscor pistol was also seized from Eulogio.
Lansang was then arrested at Co’s residence after Bondoc told the police he had also participated in the robbery.