CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Police authorities busted a robbery break-in gang believed responsible in different break-ins in this city and in other parts of Pampanga, following the arrest of its leader and four other members during a raid at the suspects’ hideout in Barangay Sta Monica on Monday.
Supt. Jean Fajardo, City of San Fernando police chief, identified the alleged leaders of the group as Joebren Manaloto, 22, and Lester Mangoba, 19, of Sta. Monica Subdivision also in the said village. She declined to identify the three other suspects because they are minors.
In his report to Senior Supt. Joel Consulta, director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO), Fajardo said the suspects broke into the residence of John Roi Terante and Luz Casataneda past 2 a.m. Monday and carted away cash and assorted jewelry amounting to P2.7 million.
The chief of police said the suspects gained access by stripping-off the iron grill window leading to the room of the victims. They took the jewelry box containing assorted jewelry and safety vault with cash stashed in it.
Fajardo said investigators got a breakthrough when a concerned citizen tipped off the whereabouts of the suspects.
Follow-up operations
in Barangay San Nicolas and at the Tropicana Motel where two of the suspects checked in, Fajardo said, led to their arrest and recovery of the safety vault and jewelry box with its contents. Operatives seized a significant amount of cash from them.
Fajardo said the stolen items including cash were recovered intact.
“The incident was solved in less than eight hours from the commission of the crime,” said Consulta when reached for comment as he commended Fajardo for a job well done.