QC rob suspects linked to P11-M heist in Makati

Photo taken from qcpdpnp.com

MANILA, Philippines – Two of the robbers who terrorized the family of a Bureau of Customs lawyer and robbed them of P1.47 million in cash, jewelry, home appliances, and even their pet Shih Tzu last April figured also in an P11-million robbery in Makati two months later, police said Friday.

Inspector Alan Dela Cruz, head of the Quezon City Police District’s theft and robbery section, Ephraim John “Paeng” Evangelista and John Mark “Macmac” Tamalla were positively identified as being among the eight men who robbed the home of businesswoman Ma. Lourdes Chua in Makati City on June 25 and divested her of P11 million in cash and valuables, including 11 rifles and shotguns.

“In both incidents, the suspects hogtied their victims upon breaking in,” Dela Cruz said.

Evangelista, Tamalla, his brother Jomel, Raul “Tatang” Hunat, and Jackylene Cleto were arrested last weekend after being linked to the robbery at Bureau of Customs lawyer Julio Doria’s home in Barangay Batasan Hills in Quezon Cityt on April 16, and the home of Doria’s staff member, Dennis Demesa, last Friday on Katipunan Avenue.

Also recovered in separate operations were some of Doria’s belongings, such as gadgets and his pet Shih Tzu dog, Polly.

Dela Cruz said the complainants in the Makati City robbery went to the QCPD on Thursday and identified Tamalla and Evangelista as being among the eight armed men who broke into Chua’s house in Barangay (village) Kasiwalan, Makati City on the morning of June 25.

Over P11 million in cash and valuables were taken in that robbery, including an assortment of 11 rifles and shotguns.

Prior to Tamalla and Evangelista’s arrest, a robbery complaint had been filed against Chua’s security guard, Carlito Santos, and his son Christian had been filed at the Makati City prosecutor’s office.

Upon seeing the two arrested suspects, one of the victims in the Makati City robbery, confronted the two men, saying they were the ones who had hurt him, according to Dela Cruz.

Chua was ordered to open the vault, which contained cash and several pieces of jewelry.

After the break-in, the robbers took with them helpers Ranel Doniza and Marlon Macawili to serve as “human shields” and made them board Chua’s Mazda van.

Santos was already inside Chua’s Ford Expedition. The two helpers were abandoned in Rizal along with the van, while the Ford Expedition was found in Calamba, Laguna.

Macawili said the two Santoses were accomplices as they even pointed guns at the helpers.

The father and son, although they were the ones initially charged for the robbery, are still at large.

Dela Cruz said Tamalla and Evangelista would face additional robbery charges for the Makati City heist.

Meanwhile, the five suspects arrested in the Doria robbery have been charged for the two motorcycles recovered in their possession, which had spurious documents.