By ALEX SAN JUAN
Quezon City police have arrested a member of a gang responsible for a series of bank robberies and a motorcycle-riding suspect who held up a couple about to enter a restaurant.
Allyson Aligan, a 23-year-old native of Ilocos Sur, was picked up before he was supposed to attend a court hearing in connection with the P7.6-million heist of Chinabank branch on Commonwealth Ave. last Oct. 3.
Aligan, together with co-accused Melbert Bautista, Geraldine Bawas and Ambrose Rex Layao, was allowed to post bail.
Jordan Duldulao, the fifth suspect, was charged with illegal possession of explosives – non-bailable offense.
It turned out that the group had warrants for their arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 90 in Dasmarinas, Cavite for another case, this time involving a branch of Wilcon Depot last September in Cavite City.
In both cases, the group managed to get inside the establishments by digging their way, earning them the Termite Gang tag. No bail was recommended for the group.
The other suspects are being sought by Cavite police.
Also presented by Quezon City Police District director PCSupt Guillermo Eleazar yesterday was John Paul Legaspi, a 19-year-old resident of Valenzuela who was nabbed Monday following the arrest of two suspects Saturday.
Wency Compenido, 19, and John Christopher Ramirez, 26, both from Valenzuela, were collared by PO2 Jomar Madarang after they attempted to hold up an unsuspecting woman at 5 p.m. at the corner of Mindanao Avenue and Road 1 in Barangay Project 6.
Both suspects were aboard a stolen motorcycle when they were chanced upon by Madarang who sensed something wrong and pulled out his weapon. Recovered from the suspects were two handguns and hand grenade.
Following interrogation, the two suspects tagged Legaspi as part of their group that victimized a couple last Oct. 2.
Robert and Roseed Felix were about to enter an eatery at the corner of of Road 1 and Road 9 in Project 6 when they were held up by the helmet-wearing Legaspi and Ramirez at gunpoint. Police said Compenido served as lookout.
The suspects seized the couple’s P5,000 cash, two mobile phones and jewelry.
Upon verification, Legaspi has two outstanding warrants for robbery and illegal possession of firearms issued by the Caloocan City court.