Robbery hold-up gang operating in central Iloilo busted
A robbery hold-up gang operating in the central part of the province of Iloilo was successfully busted by law enforcers after a hot pursuit operation last Monday.
Three of the gang members were killed in a firefight with joint police forces from Calinog, Bingawan and Janiuay in Iloilo and Tapaz in Capiz and some members of 47th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army.
The encounter happened in Barangay Nalbugan, Calinog hours after suspect Rodel Carado, 26, of Brgy Agcalaga, Calinog was captured by authorities.
The three fatalities were identified as RJ Jimenez, 19, Charlon Panizales, 20, and Rene Alarba, 29, all of San Enrique, Iloilo.
Alleged gang leader identified only as Arnel managed to escape.
Iloilo Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo Dela Paz said the group belongs to the notorious Chiva group which engages in robbery hold-up operations in the central part of Iloilo and Capiz.
The group victimized a group of traders riding on a tricycle around 7:30 a.m. of Monday, April 21, 2008 along Brgy. Malitbog, Tapaz, Capiz.
Recovered from Carado were cash money amounting P2,900, a backpack containing assorted coins amounting to P6,850, an M-16 single shot gun with ammunitions, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition and two cellular phones.
While, recovered from the scene of the firefight were two long barreled 12-gauge homemade shotguns loaded with ammunition, a cal. 38 revolver also loaded with ammunition and cash money amounting to P30,000.
Dela Paz presented Carado and their recoveries to Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. yesterday morning.
Tupas congratulated the joint forces for a successful operation.
He said the accomplishment would result to the neutralization of the Chiva group and would send a strong signal to other robbery hold-up groups that the police is out to get them.
The governor further directed Dela Paz to let his men track down and capture the alleged gang leader who escaped during the operation.
Meanwhile, Carado told Capitol beat reporters that he was only convinced by the group in joining the robbery hold-up operation as he needed money for the medical needs of his ailing wife.
Carado said he only knew of Arnel during a fiesta celebration in Calinog where he was invited to join their illegal activity. He said that he did not know the other members of the group. (With reports from A.Chris Fernandez)