2 cops, 9 others nabbed for warehouse heist

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven people, including two police officers from Nueva Ecija, were arrested and identified as alleged members of a criminal syndicate who ransacked a warehouse owned by Chinese businessmen in Quezon City on Maundy Thursday, police said yesterday.

Corporals Celso Calibuso Jr., 35, and Paul John Hipolito, 39, assigned at the Cabiao municipal police station in Nueva Ecija, and civilian Gregorio Rivera, 51, were arrested in Barangay San Juan North in Cabiao on Monday at around 12:35 p.m.

Another operation on the same day led to the arrest of Daniel Tuazon, 26, in Barangay Ilog Bulo in San Miguel, Bulacan at around 5:40 p.m.

Seven other suspects were arrested in Palayan City, also in Nueva Ecija, at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, police said. They are Wilfredo Villoga, 49; Lolito Perez, 42; Domingo Enriquez, 45; Rolando Fajardo, 50; Eduardo Paez, 35; Rodrigo Villamor, 59, and Walter Torres, 49.

Probers said the arrests were the result of a follow-up operation based on an investigation by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) of a robbery that transpired at a warehouse along Don Jose street in Barangay Sto. Domingo on Thursday night.

Investigators said that a group of armed men barged into the warehouse and held two Chinese and their employees at gunpoint.

The suspects took an unspecified amount of cash, cell phones and a Chevrolet Captiva sport utility vehicle.

The vehicle was recovered during the operation in Palayan. Police also reported seizing a 45.-caliber pistol, two hand grenades, cell phones and ammunition from the suspects.

One of the suspects, Paez, said the two policemen instructed them to commit the robbery.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Remus Media said in a television interview that the syndicate also operates in Region 4A, Region 3 and other parts of Metro Manila.