PNP News Releases 2005

3 BANK ROBBERS KILLED, 12 ARRESTED

President Arroyo today commended the Philippine National Police for the successful neutralization of a group of heavily-armed bank robbers in Valenzuela City .

President Arroyo cited the PNP, particularly the police operatives who first responded to the scene of a bank robbery, for the swift police action that resulted in the killing of three still unidentified bank robbers and the arrest of 12 gang members.

PNP Chief, Director General Edgar B Aglipay reported to President Arroyo that the arrested bank robbers belong to the “Butsoy Group”, the same group that is believed responsible for at least 12 previous bank, armored car and payroll robberies in Metro Manila and is the subject of a Case Operation Plan by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The Butsoy Gang, brandishing automatic weapons and grenade launchers stormed the Banco de Oro branch along Mac Arthur Highway in Dalandanan, Valenzuela at 9:30am this morning and fled aboard two vans and other vehicles with an undetermined amount of cash.

CIDG Chief, Director Arturo Lomibao, described the Butsoy Gang as a splinter group of the Waray-Waray Group led by a certain “Butsoy” who is a native of Samar and closely identified with slain KFR leader Allan Balimbingan.

Alert bank employees were able to sound the alarm and a massive pursuit and dragnet operation was immediately launched by the Valenzuela Police Station.

A police mobile unit engaged the suspects along Paso de Blas, but was met by a heavy volume of fire from the suspects. A crew member of the pursuing mobile unit, PO2 Victor Zabala died from gunshot wounds. His companions, Inspector Roderick Juan and PO1 Fernando Mariano were wounded.

On orders of President Arroyo, the PNP Chief promoted the slain and wounded policemen to the next higher rank.

Police reinforcements from the District and Regional Special Action Unit continued in hot pursuit finally cornering the gang at a warehouse in Malinta.

Recovered from the suspects were: four M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, one grenade launcher, one hand grenade, five rifle grenades, and assorted magazines assemblies and ammunition.

Arrested were: Zaldy CALIM, 32, of Molave, Zamboanga del Norte; Rey EDISER, 29, of Iligan City; Reynaldo BUSTAMANTE, 41, of Cagayan de Oro; Zaldy MANGALINDAN, 30, of Mactan, Cebu; Melvin LACSON, 29, of Malabon; Chris ABLAS, 24, of Tondo, Manila; Jun MENDOZA, 35, of Navotas; Bunny CERVILLA, 29, of Navotas; Alex ADRIANO, 43, of Samar; Ricky CABATSA, 28, of Caloocan City; Ronnie FERNANDEZ, 29 OF Novaliches; and Alejandro CANDAN.