‘Alvin Flores wanted to look like BB Gandanghari’

Notorious gang leader Alvin Flores wanted to look like showbiz personality BB Gandanghari, the doctor who performed cosmetic surgery on the face of the man suspected to have led the Greenbelt 5 robbery last month said on Monday. In an interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio, Dr. Dominador Pedracio said Flores claimed to be gay and requested changes in his face so he could look more womanly.

"Siya po ay, ayon sa recommendation ng isang kaibigan, lumapit po sa akin sa klinika at nag-request ng mga ibang bagay na ipagawa para baguhin ang kanyang anyo, sa kadahilanang gusto niyang mag-enjoy sa kanyang napiling kasarian sa kanyang pagkatao (Upon the recommendation of a friend, he went to my clinic and asked me to change some features of his face because he said he wanted to enjoy his chosen gender)," said Pedracio. "Ito yung gender na for the past several years sabi niya ay gusto niyang i-correct, o kaya ay ibago kaya pinagawa niya ang mga procedure na katulad ng pagpapatangos ng ilong, pagpapalagay ng dimple, pagpapabanat ng kanyang mata para maging isang parang tulad ng isang babae (He had been saying for the past several years that he wanted to correct his gender, which is why he had a nose job, eyelid surgery, and dimple creation surgery)," he added. Flores purportedly led the group of suspected robbers who posed as police officers to get into the Rolex store inside the posh Greenbelt 5 mall in Makati City last October 18. Along with three of his companions, he was killed in an encounter with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents in Cebu less than two weeks later. [See: Suspects in Greenbelt 5 robbery killed in Cebu]
Pedracio, whom the NBI has cleared of involvement as Flores pretended to be one "JC Chavez," said the gang leader specifically said he wanted to look like BB Gandanghari (formerly known as Rustom Padilla). "Wala naman pong nasabing idolo pero ayun po dun sa kanyang ipinahayag na kahilingan, kung pwede ho daw siyang pwedeng gawing Gandanghari (He did not cite a specific idol, but he said he wanted to look like Gandanghari)," Pedracio said. "Sabi ko sa kanya, 'JC ang bawat isa sa atin merong tinatawag na uniqueness. Hindi ako isang magician; this particular person might inspire you pero hindi ko magagawa yun' (I told him, 'JC, each person is unique. I am not a magician; this particular person might inspire you, but I cannot do that)," added the doctor. Pedracio said he only found out that his patient was a gang leader named Alvin Flores when he saw Flores' picture in the newspapers upon his arrival from abroad. The doctor was then contacted by the NBI and was asked to verify if the slain suspect was indeed the patient he performed cosmetic surgery on. Pedracio said he has suggested that the NBI coordinate with the Department of Health and medical associations regarding suspects on the loose so they would be aware if their patients are wanted by authorities. - GMANews.TV