Pasay cops bust bus rob gang

MANILA, Philippines - Five alleged members of a gang of bus robbers were arrested by the Pasay City police in a two-day operation that started Wednesday.

The suspects were linked to bus heists in in Pasay and Makati, said Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut, deputy director for operations of the Southern Police District (SPD).

Raymart Llano, 25; Ernesto Villanueva, 27; and Jigger Bacolod, 20, were arrested in a raid on a house along E. Rodriguez Street on Wednesday.

The gang’s alleged leader, Orlando Albisa, 40, was arrested in another raid on a house on Apelo Cruz Street yesterday. His companion, identified as Sunnie Salinas, died after allegedly trading shots with police officers sent to arrest them.

Albisa and Salinas are reportedly members of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik crime gang.

Another alleged gang member, a 16-year-old boy, was accompanied by his uncle, a barangay chairman, when he surrendered to the Pasay police yesterday morning.

The SPD said the suspects would board buses that ply routes along EDSA and rob the passengers.   

A .38 caliber Armscor revolver was recovered from Albisa and a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver was found in Salinas’ possession.

The SPD said assorted bags and wallets and sachets said to contain shabu were confiscated from the suspects, who are detained at its headquarters in Taguig City.  – With Perseus Echeminada