A gang of teenage boys was found out to be behind recent armed robbery cases in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City which led to the death of a security guard and two store staff, police said yesterday.
According to Quezon City Police District acting chief Police Col. Ronnie Montejo, three members of the group are already under their custody, including a 15-year-old boy who was wounded in an encounter with police.
Montejo said the gang identified themselves as “Young Troublemakers” and were behind two recent incidents of robbery with homicide in Barangay Holy Spirit.
Last Oct. 27, around four members of the group wearing helmets and armed with handguns robbed Express Lane Minimart and shot to death security guard Reymond Dag-ay, 32, and store crew Romeo Econal, 24, after they got in their way.
A follow-up operation was conducted by combined operatives of the QCPD Station 6 Batasan and Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit on Oct. 29 after they were informed that the suspects were spotted on Kapalaran St.
However, the minors apparently sensed the approaching police officers, prompting them to scamper.
One of the minors, who turned out to be only a 15-year-old boy, alias “Bryan,” and another cohort, fired at the chasing policemen, resulting in a shootout.
Police were able to disable Bryan who was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City while his companion escaped.
Another follow-up operation was conducted by the operatives last Nov. 1 on Bulacan St. in Barangay Payatas and on AFP Road in Barangay Holy Spirit, both in Quezon City, which led to the arrest of two other 17-year-old members of the gang.
An orange tricycle body, which police said was one of the getaway vehicles used by the group as seen in a closed-circuit television clip, was recovered.
Apart from the grocery robbery, the suspects also admitted that they robbed a branch of Don C Litson Manok in Barangay Holy Spirit last Oct. 20.
The incident resulted in the death of service crew Noel Lampitao, 39, who was gunned down by the minors, while his co-worker, Junie Gumanid, 18, was injured.
The QCPD chief bared they are now closely monitoring other members of the gang led by certain a “John Paul” to take them under custody and to prevent them from doing other criminal activities.
Montejo also urged parents to guide their children and monitor their activities.
“May it serve as a reminder to parents to guide and monitor the activities of their children, especially if they are minors, because by law, parents are primarily responsible in the civil aspect of anyone being apprehended and proven to have violation,” Montejo said. (Alexandria San Juan)
