More suspects in Greenbelt 5 robbery identified
ANDREO CALONZO, GMANews.TV
11/05/2009 | 05:18 PM
More suspects in last month’s daring robbery inside the posh Greenbelt 5 shopping center in Makati City have been identified by the police following the surrender of one suspect and the arrest of another.
"The heydays of the Alvin Flores robbery group are over," said Director Roberto Rosales, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), referring to the notorious criminal syndicate behind several robbery incidents in Metro Manila.
Rosales identified the suspects as Joseph Puno, the supposed right hand of slain gang leader Alvin Flores; Juanio Zaldivar alias Junior; Rodrigo Carbonel alias Roger; Merlinda Flores, also known as Merlin Mendoza; one Chabeng and Betong, supposedly Flores’ siblings; a certain Boyet, allegedly the group’s driver; and Jayvee Cuenco.
The eight were identified after a suspected gang member, Warlito Rodriguito, surrendered to the police in Pangasinan last Monday, and the arrest of Dennis Serquina, also in Pangasinan, last Saturday.
The two were presented to the media Thursday in a press briefing at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.
Serquina was arrested inside his house in Barangay (village) Aloo in Umingan, Pangasinan, while Rodriguito surrendered to the Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office 1, which turned him over to Regional Police Intelligence Operations Unit.
Rosales said Serquina and Rodriguito were brought for inquest at the Makati City Prosecutors’ Office on November 3 for the crime of robbery with homicide.
"We will continue to put pressure to the remaining eight members and we will put an end to this Alvin Flores group," he said.
Mayor denies links
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Saldivar is the cousin of San Nicolas, Pangasinan Mayor Leoncio Saldivar III, who is said to be the protector and financier of the group.
Mayor Saldivar, in an interview aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras" last Wednesday, denied any links to the group. He, however, admitted helping Flores in November last year when the suspected gang leader was shot.
He said he did not know Flores’ illegal activities at that time.
“Finerst aid (siya) dito sa bahay. Hindi ko naman alam kung ano aktibidades nila, kung ano trabaho nila. ‘Yung sa atin ho eh hindi tayo namimili kung sino ang tutulungan," Mayor Saldivar said.
(I gave him first aid in our house, but I didn’t know his and his group's activities. I extend help to anyone who need it.)
Flores was among the four suspected gang members who were killed in an encounter with government agents in Cebu province last Thursday.
Mayor Saldivar also admitted that Rodriguito, one of the suspects in the custody of the police, worked as a utility man in the municipal hall in 2004, the year he assumed office.
He said he is ready to face any investigation about his supposed involvement in the Greenbelt 5 robbery and the gang behind it.
“Malinis po yung konsensya ko (My conscience is clear)," Mayor Saldivar said. - GMANews.TV
"The heydays of the Alvin Flores robbery group are over," said Director Roberto Rosales, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), referring to the notorious criminal syndicate behind several robbery incidents in Metro Manila.
Rosales identified the suspects as Joseph Puno, the supposed right hand of slain gang leader Alvin Flores; Juanio Zaldivar alias Junior; Rodrigo Carbonel alias Roger; Merlinda Flores, also known as Merlin Mendoza; one Chabeng and Betong, supposedly Flores’ siblings; a certain Boyet, allegedly the group’s driver; and Jayvee Cuenco.
The eight were identified after a suspected gang member, Warlito Rodriguito, surrendered to the police in Pangasinan last Monday, and the arrest of Dennis Serquina, also in Pangasinan, last Saturday.
The two were presented to the media Thursday in a press briefing at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.
Serquina was arrested inside his house in Barangay (village) Aloo in Umingan, Pangasinan, while Rodriguito surrendered to the Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office 1, which turned him over to Regional Police Intelligence Operations Unit.
Rosales said Serquina and Rodriguito were brought for inquest at the Makati City Prosecutors’ Office on November 3 for the crime of robbery with homicide.
"We will continue to put pressure to the remaining eight members and we will put an end to this Alvin Flores group," he said.
Mayor denies links
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Saldivar is the cousin of San Nicolas, Pangasinan Mayor Leoncio Saldivar III, who is said to be the protector and financier of the group.
Mayor Saldivar, in an interview aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras" last Wednesday, denied any links to the group. He, however, admitted helping Flores in November last year when the suspected gang leader was shot.
He said he did not know Flores’ illegal activities at that time.
“Finerst aid (siya) dito sa bahay. Hindi ko naman alam kung ano aktibidades nila, kung ano trabaho nila. ‘Yung sa atin ho eh hindi tayo namimili kung sino ang tutulungan," Mayor Saldivar said.
(I gave him first aid in our house, but I didn’t know his and his group's activities. I extend help to anyone who need it.)
Flores was among the four suspected gang members who were killed in an encounter with government agents in Cebu province last Thursday.
Mayor Saldivar also admitted that Rodriguito, one of the suspects in the custody of the police, worked as a utility man in the municipal hall in 2004, the year he assumed office.
He said he is ready to face any investigation about his supposed involvement in the Greenbelt 5 robbery and the gang behind it.
“Malinis po yung konsensya ko (My conscience is clear)," Mayor Saldivar said. - GMANews.TV
