QC pawnshop rob suspect tied to 2013 Taytay heist

One of the eight suspects arrested the other day over a botched pawnshop heist in Quezon City has been linked to another pawnshop robbery which happened last month in Rizal province.

Ortiz Latungan, 48, was positively identified as one of the burglars who robbed the CVM Pawnshop and Money Changer on Kaytikiling, Manila East Road in Taytay on Dec. 16.

Theft and robbery section head Insp. Alan dela Cruz of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said Latungan was spotted by a tricycle driver coming out of a sewer near the pawnshop with a bag containing the loot.

The suspect was one of eight people arrested before dawn on Tuesday in an apartment on Villongco Street in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City. He and his cohorts were caught red-handed digging a tunnel leading to the Ochoa Realica Pawnshop near the apartment.

Following the group’s arrest, operatives of the Taytay Municipal Police went to the QCPD to verify if they were also the ones who robbed the Taytay pawnshop. Taken during the heist were a still undetermined amount of cash and jewelry and a 12-gauge shotgun.

Aside from Latungan, also arrested were Cecile Ibañez, 28; Eric Secyang, 45; Arthur Bino, 26; Laurence Doyau, 38; Tarex Tayaban, 27; Ruben Sebnangen, 34; and Elmo Bustarde. The QCPD described them as miners from Benguet and Mt. Provinces. Ibañez, on the other hand, rented the apartment from its owner.

Dela Cruz said the group, which was also behind three other pawnshop robberies in Quezon City last year, underwent inquest proceedings on charges of robbery in band, illegal possession of explosives, possession of picklocks and malicious mischief.