Soldier nabbed for foiled resto robbery

Photo grab from CCTV footage shows suspect pointing a gun at Angel’s Pizza crew. —QCPD PHOTO

A soldier who worked for the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) was arrested on Monday night after he tried to rob a pizza restaurant in Quezon City.

Sgt. Ventura Ramirez Jr. was overpowered by restaurant workers who turned him over to the police.

A report to Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District director, said the employees of Angel’s Pizza on Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Pinyahan were manning the store around 10:30 p.m. when Ventura walked in, wearing a motorcycle helmet.

Footage from the establishment’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera showed him pulling out a .45-caliber pistol from his sling bag and pointing it at the staff.

However, the restaurant employees overpowered him, took his gun and called the police.

Supt. Pedro Sanchez of the Kamuning police station said that Ramirez, an active soldier, refused to give a statement to investigators.

An identification card recovered from the suspect showed that he was assigned to ISAFP as a confidential agent. He also yielded several bills in local and foreign currencies.