COTABATO CITY–Police here busted an organized robbery group that they say has been operating as far as the Davao and South Cotabato areas.
Over the past three days, at least 10 robbery suspects were rounded in various parts of the city and have admitted to be part of the Ring Life Robbery Gang operating in the cities of Cotabato, Digos, General Santos, Kidapawan and Cagayan de Oro, Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director, said Thursday.
“All arrested suspects were positively identified by their victims,” Octavio said.
He identified several of the suspects as Warren Bito Salie alias “Rapael Abubakar,” Michael Manonggal, Tarhata Tampla alias “Glory Manzano,” a certain John Paul, and a certain alias Sniper.
Seized from the suspects were one homemade 12-gauge shotgun, one homemade .357-caliber revolver, one 9mm pistol, ammunition, and cellphones.
Their arrests followed the rash of robbery incidents and the mounting complaints from residents in the past several days. This prompted Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi to order a crackdown against notorious criminal elements in the city.
“Apparently, these snatchers have been in the city for quite some time but have remained elusive as they transfer from one place to another,” Sayadi said.
One of the suspects, Salie, was himself caught over the weekend by a car dashboard camera while snatching a mobile phone from a victim who was onboard a passenger vehicle.
“It was through that particular video footage of Salie committing the crime while back-riding from a motorcycle of a cohort that led to the arrest of the other gang members,” the mayor said.
Sayadi warned other lawless elements to “think twice” in bringing their criminal activities to the city, saying they would eventually be caught and jailed. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
