Man linked to P7-M bank heist nabbed anew

MANILA, Philippines — One of the five alleged members of the “Termite Gang,” who stole more than P7 million from a Chinabank branch in Quezon City, was arrested anew yesterday in connection with a robbery at a hardware store in Cavite earlier this year. 

Alyson Aligan, 23, was arrested by police at around 3:40 p.m. at the Quezon City Hall compound during the implementation of an arrest warrant against him just as he attended a pre-trial conference on charges of illegal possession of firearms linked to the bank robbery.

Also included in the arrest warrant were Aligan’s co-accused in the bank robbery, Gerald Bawas and Jordan Agustin Duldulao, as well as a certain Medhi Kobb.

Judge Dennis Pastrana of the Regional Trial Court Branch 90 in Dasmariñas issued the arrest warrant, no bail recommended, against the four respondents tagged in the robbery at a Wilcon Hardware branch in Dasmariñas, Cavite last May.

They were supposedly able to take around P1 million and documents from the safety vault by destroying the fire exits of the establishment. 

Aligan, Bawas, and two of their alleged cohorts were just released from detention this month after posting bail of P12,000 each for the bank robbery.

He and Bawas also posted P120,000 bail each for illegal possession of firearms.

Duldulao remains in jail as the charge of illegal possession of explosives filed against him by police is non-bailable.

Aligan, Duldulao and Bawas admitted that they served as lookouts during the heist, wherein they were able to destroy the main bank vault and more than 40 safety deposit boxes and stole P7.6 million in cash and valuables.

Police said the suspects managed to enter the bank at the corner of Camaro street and Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay Greater Fairview by digging a tunnel from the drainage canals outside the bank.