5 men linked to Quezon City firm payroll robbery arrested

Five men believed to be behind Friday’s robbery of a recruitment agency in Quezon City have been arrested, according to an official of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

In a report, Inspector Alan de la Cruz, QCPD antirobbery and theft unit chief,  identified those arrested as Ramon Vera, 41; Evily Villeza, 42; Benjamin Olaes, 32; Rodel Cerdeña, 28; and Rommel Selorio.

Charges of robbery in band and illegal possession of bladed weapons were filed against them by Quezon City Assistant Prosecutor Solivan Usma following their arrest at around 1 a.m. on Saturday.

The police said that they were still looking for a sixth man identified only as Bobby.

According to the five, Bobby was holding the loot from the heist.

At around 6 a.m. on Friday, the Job-On-Link recruitment firm in the Uni Building at the corner of Edsa and Arayat Street in Cubao, Quezon City had just opened when armed men walked in.

Employees Anave Arcala and Romualdo Villagonzalo said that one of the robbers, disguised as an applicant, had entered their office just a few minutes before his cohorts did.

They took a bag which contained P1.3 million in cash—money meant for the payroll of the firm’s employees.

The police said that they arrested the five after witnesses identified them when they were shown pictures of known criminals with records.

Four of the five were tricycle drivers from Quezon City except for Selorio who said he worked as a family driver.