2 soldiers assigned to PSG arrested on robbery charges

MANILA, Philippines—Two members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned to the Presidential Security Group were arrested after they allegedly broke into an auto shop in Quezon City Thursday midnight and took away P100,000 worth of valuables and a car, police said.

Superintendent Eleazar Matta, Quezon City Police District-Station 5 commander, identified the suspects as Corporal Bobby Ates, 25, and Sergeant Marvin Gaton, 31, both members of the Philippine Army.

The two were arrested about an hour later at a KTV Bar.

Matta said Streamline Auto Salon and Detailing Shop owner Richard Tubig and security guard Manolo Panotes were at the shop in Barangay (village) Lagro in Novaliches, Quezon City when Ates and Gaton, along with three other still unidentified men, entered around 12 a.m.

The suspects then handcuffed Tubig and hogtied Panotes. One of the suspects whipped Tubig on the head.

The group ransacked the shop and took away a Sony Vaio laptop worth P50,000; iPhone 4 worth P30,000; iPad worth P15,000; a wedding ring worth P65,000, a driver’s license and a white Honda Civic, which they used as their getaway vehicle.

But at around 1 a.m., police received a telephone call from the RIAS KTV Bar located in the same village, saying that the two were seen carrying firearms inside the establishment.

When police responded, the two were found in possession of a 9mm and caliber .45 pistols, apart from the M16 recovered inside a gray Mitsubishi Montero they allegedly used.

After the two were arrested, Panotes, who called for help after the robbery, positively identified Ates and Gaton as among those who broke into their shop.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, AFP spokesman, confirmed that Ates and Gaton were members of the Army and said that they will not tolerate such acts.

The case was placed for further investigation for possible arrest of the other suspects.