‘Spider’ robbery gang boss, 7 members caught in cops’ web

MANILA, Philippines–After a seven-year manhunt, the leader of the “Spider” robbery group and seven gang members were arrested by authorities while in a drug session inside a house in Pasig City on Monday.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Supt. Abelardo Villacorta said the arrest of Randy Marcellano and seven of his cohorts effectively neutralized the group, which earned its moniker because of its members’ apparent ability to scale tall fences or walls with ease.

Villacorta added that before robbing their victims, the group would try to get some information about the layout of the house by befriending either their neighbor, house helpers, security guards or even the homeowners themselves. The gang would then break into the house, tying up everyone inside before ransacking the rooms for valuables.

On Monday afternoon after a month-long surveillance, teams from the EPD’s District Intelligence Division and District Special Reaction Unit who were acting on a tip raided a house on Col. Liksi Street in Barangay (village) Caniogan, Pasig City, and arrested Marcellano, his brother Roderick, dismissed Pasig City policeman SPO1 Rolando Baltazar and his live-in partner Rhoda Marcellano, Jessie Malicdem, Edgar Giangan, Enrico Espinosa and Myrna Bulauan.

Villacorta reported that the group was in the middle of a “shabu” (methamphethamine hydrochloride) session when the police teams arrived.

Almost all of the suspects, the EPD director added, had outstanding warrants for their arrest, specifically for robbery, homicide, estafa and violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Seized from the suspects were P150,000 worth of shabu; drug paraphernalia; a hand grenade; a .38-cal. revolver; replicas of a .45-cal. pistol and M-16 automatic rifle; ammunition; a knife; a bolt cutter and a pry bar.

Villacorta said that the gang leader, Randy Marcellano, had evaded arrest on robbery charges since 2007 while Baltazar was removed from the service because of alleged drug offenses.

“The group has been operating since 1999 within Metro Manila and nearby provinces, victimizing houses whose owners are frequently away,” the EPD chief added, noting that the group used information they got from people familiar with the layout of the house they were targeting.

The EPD said it was verifying information that the group was behind two more house robberies: one in an exclusive village in Pasig City on July 18 and in Marikina City just last week.

Villacorta added that they were also checking a report that just hours before their arrest, the group had come from another heist.