Robbery suspects out on bail strike again

Robbery suspects out on bail have been tagged in a bus robbery before dawn Monday in Mandaluyong City, where they stabbed a bank employee who refused to give his bag.

Hours later, police arrested four suspects after authorities identified them from a rogues gallery compiled during their previous arrest.

The stabbing victim, LandBank employee Ryan Ralph Dela Rosa, 28, was treated at the Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center for wounds in the upper left chest.

Case officer SP01 Marlon Climacosa said one of six robbers stabbed Dela Rosa when he refused to give up his backpack, which contained an Apple iPod worth P24,000, three hard drives worth P15,000, and documents.

Going south

Climacosa added that of about 20 passengers of the Mayamy Transit airconditioned bus (TWL-917), only six, apart from Dela Rosa, reported the incident to the police. They were Prince Adrianne Sevilla, Ruelliza Luna, Riza Mae Bombangan, Ana Celine Abijay, Carlo John Diwata, and Dante Baccay.

The investigator said the six men boarded the bus on the southbound lane of Edsa, in front of Starmall, and took separate seats at about 4:20 a.m.

Minutes later, upon reaching the corner of Sultan Street, Barangay (village) Highway Hills, they declared a robbery.

A robber ordered the driver, Norlito Recamara, to continue driving at knifepoint, as his cohorts took the passengers’ valuables.

The assailants got off at the footbridge near VRP Medical Center, and fled on foot,

Climacosa said.

A victim, Baccay, said he was scheduled to fly to Riyadh Monday but lost his passport, and plane ticket to the robbers.

On record

“They took everything from the passengers, but not from the conductor,” Climacosa said, adding that the bus’ first trip yielded P500 only.

Mandaluyong police director, Senior Supt. Florendo Quibuyen, said they immediately identified some of the robbers from their rogues gallery, adding that they were arrested last year also for robbery and were out on bail.

Police caught four suspects in a follow up operation on their lair in Binangonan, Rizal, at about 1 p.m.

Quibuyen refused to give their names pending the arrest of the other two suspects.

Lawmen said they did not recover any loot from those arrested.

He said charges of robbery in band, and physical injuries were being readied against the suspects.