Village official, 3 others nabbed over foiled robbery

MANILA, Philippines —Four suspected robbers, including a village official , were arrested as they were about to pull off a heist in Parañaque City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Wednesday.

Lamberto Cunanan, 42, a village councillor in Barangay Gomez, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, was arrested along with security guard Osmar Villar, 26; Nomer Sanqui, 39; and Franklin Hizon, 27, at the parking lot of a fastfood establishment in Sucat, Parañaque City at around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The suspects were caught after police received information that a certain Jun and his group from Nueva Ecija were planning to rob an establishment in Parañaque City, said CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Estilles, chief of the Anti-organized Crime Division of the CIDG, said they waited for the robbery group at the parking area and saw them as they arrived on board a red Isuzu Fuego (WDC-781).

Police immediately arrested the four, said Estilles.

Seized from the suspects were a hand grenade, two caliber 38, one caliber 45 pistol, amulets and bladed weapons, said Pagdilao.

Police were looking into the group’s possible link to a series of carjacking and robbery incidents in Quezon City and Metro Manila.

The suspects are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.