PARANAQUE Cops Bust Rob Gang

FOUR members of the notorious Tolentino Robbery Hold-up Gang, a remnant of the Ozamis Splinter Group/Kuratong Baleleng Gang, responsible for the series of armed robberies in southern part of Metro Manila and nearby provinces were formally charged before the city prosecutors’ office on Monday.

It was gathered that the gang was responsible for armed robberies of at least 17 branches of LBC forwarding firm in various areas in Metro Manila and a number of hardware stores and other business establishments.

Paranaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez identified the suspects as gang leader Glen Tolentino,25, of Brgy. Caridad, Cavite City; Johnny Bulawan, 31, of Brgy. Albuera, Ormoc City; Erikson Javier,31, of Brgy. San Dionisio, Dasmarinas City, Cavite and Marbell Villaliza alias Tata, 36, of Argao City ,Cebu and presently residing in Brgy.Anabu Silyas, Imus, Cavite.

Three other gang members identified as alias Dodong , alias Inar and Martin who managed to elude arrest during follow-up operations are now the subject of a massive manhunt. 

Gang leader Tolentino said the LBC’s failure to post armed private security guards make it easier for them to rob their branches.

They were initially charged with violation of RA 10591 otherwise known as illegal possession of firearms, ammunitions and explosives even as other criminal charges are being readied against them.

Olivarez noted that Tolentino is the stepson of Ricky Cadavero , the leader of the notorious Ozamis city based Kuratong Baleleng bank robbery gang who was spirited out in a daring manner by his men while in detention in National Bilibid Prison a few years back.

Cadavero was subsequently slain by law enforcers during another escape try after being recaptured by the police less than a year later while being transported to NBP.

Senior Supt. Ariel Andrade, chief of Paranaque City police said the suspects were nabbed after a series of long and tedious intelligence gathering and stake-out operations.

The suspects were arrested by the elements of Special Operations Unit last Saturday while about to stage robbery in LBC branches in Baclaran and in F.B. Harrison street in Pasay City.

Recovered from them were three handheld firearms with ammunitions and two live hand grenades and two motorcycles.

Employees of LBC branches in Paranaque and Las Pinas areas who were earlier victimized by the suspects have positively identified them during a police line-up.

Olivarez stressed that the arrest of the suspects was part of their continuing campaign against criminality in the city.

“We have intensified our efforts against criminals and criminal gangs although I can proudly say that our city has among the lowest criminality rates in the entire Metro Manila, mainly because of our active police visibility and full cooperation by our force multipliers like barangay watchmen and most importantly by our ordinary citizens” Olivarez noted.