SPD, Pasay cops form task force to hunt down 'Bundol Gang'

MANILA, Philippines – The Southern Police District intelligence unit and the Pasay City police have formed a special task force to track down and arrest members of the “Bundol Gang” robbery group.

Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Pasay police chief, told The STAR that members of the task force will be randomly deployed to the three terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) starting this week “to monitor suspicious vehicles” used by the robbers to trail their victims.

Troop augmentation and patrolling will be Pasay police’s first step to assist the Eastern Police District (EPD) in their campaign against the group.

“This is part of the pre-emptive measure. If the plate number is suspicious then we will immediately will report that to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for assistance,” Petrasanta said.

The robbery group got its name after its modus operandi. Police said the robbers tail travelers from NAIA then intentionally rear-end (bundol) the victims’ vehicles so they would stop.

Among the group’s victims are businessman Jorge Bernas, a brother-in-law of former presidential daughter Luli Arroyo; and American national Frederick Allan Boutcher, 62, who reportedly lost P2 million in cash, jewelry and important belongings to the thieves.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo earlier said that the robbers had apparently followed Bernas and Boutcher from the airport then commandeered their vehicles. 

Robbers usually strike during predawn hours as this is also the “weak points” of the police checkpoint operation, said Manalo.