Rob suspect rearrested for hiding true identity

One of the seven robbery suspects dubbed by authorities as “Snow White’s seven dwarves” was promptly rearrested during the weekend after he was found to be using a fake name.

Ben Picpican, who had just been ordered released for further investigation by the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on charges of robbery, possession of picklocks and malicious mischief, had introduced himself as “Arthur Bino” following his arrest on Jan. 20.

He and six other men were caught in the act of digging a tunnel in an apartment that led to a nearby pawnshop on Villongco Street in Barangay (village) Commonwealth, Quezon City.

According to a report by Chief Insp. Rodelio Marcelo of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), Picpican’s concealment of his true name was discovered on Friday night when Nilda So of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office served release orders for Arthur Bino and three other suspects who were all in the unit’s custody.

The release orders were issued by Assistant City Prosecutor Rolando Ramirez after he found the evidence against the four insufficient.

Marcelo said that it was QCPD-CIDU duty desk officer PO3 Modestino Juanson who discovered the discrepancy in Picpican’s identity.

In his complaint affidavit, Juanson said that on Jan. 24, he conducted a roll call and the suspect answered to the name of Ben Picpican.

At 7 p.m. that same day, So arrived at the QCPD-CIDU office and presented the release orders for Arthur Bino and three other suspects. When Juanson read the names on the orders, the man who had previously answered to the name Ben Picpican raised his hand when Arthur Bino’s name was called.

This prompted the duty desk officer to rearrest Picpican, this time for concealing his true name. He remains detained at the QCPD-CIDU holding cell pending the filing of the new charge against him in the city prosecutor’s office. The three other suspects, on the other hand, were immediately released.