SPD operatives trap, arrest alleged members of robbery gang

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MANILA, Philippines — Police have arrested two men allegedly involved in a series of robbery and extortion incidents in Muntinlupa City.

Southern Police District (SPD) chief Brig. Gen. Jimile Macaraeg identified the suspects as Randy Malang, 34 years old, and Gerald Daroy, 27 years old.

According to Macaraeg, the suspects were arrested in an entrapment operation on Saturday, August 7, along P. Guevarra St., Barangay. 341 in the city of Manila. The entrapment operation was conducted by the SPD District Intelligence Division and District Special Operations (DSOU).

Police said the operation stemmed from the complaint of Yu Jun Liu over a robbery incident last July 8 along Diokno Avenue near Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

On August 7, the Chinese complainant reported to the office of SPD-DSOU that he had made contact with the robbers and that they were asking for money in exchange for the hard drive that they stole from him, along with his other belongings, in July.

This prompted authorities to plan the entrapment operation, where the two suspects were collared after receiving the P50,000 they demanded from the Chinese victim.

Authorities subsequently confiscated from the suspects the boodle money, a cellular phone, a 38-caliber revolver “Shooters” with no serial number loaded with four ammunition, a 48-caliber “Colt” with magazine loaded with seven live ammunition, and a hand grenade with white masking tape placed inside a black leather sling bag.

“The suspects were then brought to SPD-DSOU for proper disposition while recovered firearms were submitted to Firearms and Explosives Office for verification and recovered hand grenade was turned over to Explosives and Ordnance Division of SPD for examination and identification,” said the police report.

On August 8, two other complainants identified the two suspects as part of a group of four male robbers who stole a vault by forcibly entering a house in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, on June 6.

Later, another complainant identified Malang as among the robbers in an incident on June 24.

Police said that during the “custodial investigation,” Malang and Daroy admitted being involved in the mentioned robbery incidents in Muntinlupa City. Police also said that both pointed to a certain “Lucky” as the mastermind.

Macaraeg said that Malang and Daroy are currently facing charges of robbery-extortion, violation of Republic Act (RA) 9516, or Unlawful Possession of Explosive, and RA 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.

Further, he said, the two will be facing robbery cases over the July 8 and June 24 incidents.

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