5 nabbed for Quezon City robberies

MANILA, Philippines — Five men tagged in a series of robberies targeting business establishments in Quezon City were arrested in Manila on Wednesday night.

Jeffrey Flores, 34; Ting Jocson, 22; Danju San Diego, 20; James Karl Vecina, 22; and Mark Anthony Labarinto were caught in a follow-up operation near a mall in Tayuman at around 9 p.m. 

Their arrest came two hours after they allegedly robbed the clients of a car wash along N. Roxas street in Barangay Lourdes in Quezon City.

Police were able to track the suspects using a locator app on the cell phone of one of the victims.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office director, said the suspects are reportedly involved in a string of robberies of restaurants and other establishments.

The NCRPO is also investigating the suspects’ alleged involvement in robberies in other cities in Metro Manila.

Some of the suspects admitted to robbing the carwash and claimed they rented their firearms from the group’s alleged leader, identified only as Junjun, who escaped, Eleazar said.

Senior Inspector Allan dela Cruz, head of the Quezon City Police District theft and robbery section, said the group agreed to allot a share of the loot for the renting of the firearms. 

Surveillance footage showed six men on three motorcycles robbing the carwash’s clients. 

An off-duty policeman tried to stop the robbery by shooting at the suspects but they were able to escape.

One of the carwash’s clients identified Jocson as the man who robbed him.

Police recovered a Louis Vuitton bag containing a hand grenade, two .45 caliber pistols and two .38 caliber revolvers from the suspects.

Three motorcycles, helmets and personal belongings of other victims were also recovered from the group’s alleged safehouse on Hizon street in Barangay 378 in Manila, police said.