Alleged gang boss evades arrest, robs cop

MANILA, Philippines - A man linked to a number of robberies in Metro Manila – including one involving a general of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – escaped from police officers sent to arrest him in Quezon City Tuesday afternoon.

Jonathan Cuya jumped out of a window of his alleged gang’s safe house in Barangay Balingasa when the police tried to serve a warrant for his arrest at around 3:30 p.m., said Chief Inspector Rodelio Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU).

Two hours later, Cuya reportedly robbed a policeman of more than P600,000 worth of jewelry in Quezon City.

Senior Police Officer 4 Mario Jamero picked out Cuya’s photograph from the rogues’ gallery and said he was one of two men who robbed him in Project 6 at around 5:30 p.m., said Inspector Alan dela Cruz, chief of the QCPD-CIDU’s theft and robbery section.

Jamero, who owns a truck hauling business and is assigned to the Police Security and Protection Group, said the suspects took his Rolex watch worth P500,000; two gold rings worth P50,000; a gold necklace, P35,000; and a gold bracelet, P35,000.

Jamero said he and his wife went to Mindanao Avenue in his Ford Everest to come to the aid of his driver, who reported that the bumper of the truck he was driving fell off.

While Jamero was helping load the truck bumper into his Everest, the policeman said he saw the two suspects park their motorcycle behind the truck.

Jamero said he was surprised when the two suspects appeared behind him, pointed .45 caliber pistols at him then take the jewelry he was wearing.

Accomplices caught

Marcelo said Cuya escaped with an alleged accomplice, Jaime Barcelon, 36, who was later arrested by police officers. Recovered from Barcelon were a hand grenade and a sachet of shabu.

Also arrested in the operation were Bhal Katian, 45; Martin Ivan Diaz, 23; Alvin Alcantara, 31; and Elmer Barcelon, 34.

Among the items recovered from the suspects were a homemade shotgun, a sword, a .22 caliber handgun, a gun replica, a homemade revolver, bullets and several cell phones.

Series of heists

Cuya, who was tagged by BFP deputy chief for administration Chief Superintendent Samuel Perez in a robbery at his house in Nov. 26, was nowhere to be found. He was arrested in June for other heists, but was reportedly freed after posting bail.

Court records show that he has a number of cases filed in several Quezon City courts. He was reportedly the leader of the group who robbed Edward Choy’s house on Hemady street in Barangay Mariana on May 16. Choy was killed during the robbery.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano earlier said it was Cuya’s group who conducted a June 11 robbery in front of a tire shop along Roosevelt Avenue in Barangay Paraiso, an April 12 break-in at a house on Scout Lazcano street, and a robbery at a house on Bagong Buhay street in Barangay Sto. Niño.

Appropriate charges against the arrested suspects will be filed before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office, Marcelo said.