Cash deposits of robbery suspect intrigue cops

MANILA, Philippines—Police said their cases against six armed men arrested Sunday evening for carrying unlicensed firearms and on suspicion of planning a string of robberies in Las Piñas, have been boosted by the discovery of huge cash deposits in the name of one of the suspects who had claimed to be jobless.

Investigating officers SPO2 Crisando Calatay and PO3 Richard Credo said the cash deposits in the name of suspect Daniel Carandang from Laguna would be additional evidence to establish probable cause in the preliminary investigation by the city prosecutor office. The police did not provide additional details on the cash deposits.

Police reports identified the five other suspects as Benigno Abiera, 54, of Antipolo, Rizal; Johnson Labastida, 31, of Caloocan City; Roy Reyes, 59, of Caloocan City; Armando Guno, 35, of Caloocan City; and Joel Aquino, 36, of Caloocan City.

Charges of brigandage, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, illegal possession of explosives and a city ordinance violation on driving without license plates have been filed against the six. But the charges are all bailable offenses.

Results of the inquest proceedings handled by Las Piñas State Posecutor Zelica Longcob are expected to come out on Wednesday.

“This is the first time we handled a brigandage case. They were arrested for illegal firearms and explosives but we do not know their plans yet [when they were caught],” said Longcob.

Aside from the three .45-cal. pistols, two hand grenades, nine magazines and live ammunition recovered from the suspects, sketches, maps and blueprints of commercial centers in the city gave the police more reason to believe that the group had been planning several robberies in the area.

Speculations have reached the local prosecutor’s office that the six men are part of the Kuratong Baleleng group but Credo dismissed the possibility pending further investigation. He said initial evidence established that the six men were organized but did not link the group to any existing criminal group. The Kuratong Baleleng gained notoriety as a robbery and kidnapping group in the 1990s, particularly after about a dozen of their suspected members were killed in police operations.

“I have to base my decision on the evidence and facts presented to me. As per record, there’s no affiliation to any group involved,” said Las Piñas State Prosecutor Zelica Longcob.

The suspects were arrested when their red Toyota Innova was flagged down at a checkpoint for driving without a license plate. They sped off toward Alabang prompting the police to give chase. Police eventually cornered the group and found the illegal firearms in the vehicle that led to their arrest.