AC police director Col. Patrick Joyce Sangalang. FB photo
ANGELES CITY — Policemen here used a global positioning system location finder in tracking down five suspects in the robbery hold-up of a grocery store at Barangay Tabun here last August 23.
“The iPad–equipped locator application made it easy for us to track down the suspects and within three hours after the crime was committed, they were all arrested,” said city police director Col. Joyce Patrick Sangalang in a belated interview with media.
“It was a photo finish crime bust,” enthused Sangalang, urging owners of iPad and iPhones or any other gadgets to install locator apps or GPS location finder for security purposes.
The suspects, Sangalang said, did not know that one of the gadgets they took shortly after robbing Auntie Anne’s Supermarket is equipped with location finder.
Police said three of the suspects barged inside the store while their two cohorts served as look out and at gunpoint announced a hold-up. Cash amounting to P170,000 was taken at gunpoint, along with an iPad, three iPhones and other valuables including credit cards, and ATM cards.
One of the suspects was reported to have fired his handgun into the air before they fled on board two Nmax motorcycles heading eastward in this city.
Sangalang said the robbery and the faces of the suspects were captured on security cameras of the store. “Security cameras installed along the escape route of the suspects also gave our lawmen a breakthrough,” he added.
Police operatives raided the suspects’ safehouse situated along Ubas Street, Barangay Dau, Mabalacat City. “They were all surprised with the lawmen’s presence inside the compound yelling them to surrender,” said Sangalang.
The suspects were identified as Henry Calatayud, 41, Edmark Marcelino, 32, and Carl Jose Esguerra, 21, all of Resettlement Center, Barangay Sapa Libutad; Reslie Vitales, 20, of Barangay Cutcut, and Jerich Aquino, 20, of Barangay Pandan, all in this city.
Two other suspects identified as Christian Dantes alias Jan-Jan and Joey Liad eluded arrest under cover of darkness.
Seized from them were two .45 pistols and one 9mm Glock 17 pistol which was later found out as a PNP service firearm issued to a policeman in Quirino province. Also recovered from them were different ATM cards, credit cards and P70,000 cash. Four motorcycles of different models and two improvised license plates believed used as getaway by the suspects were also found at the rented apartment.
Police records showed to suspects were members of a gang involved in a series of robbery hold-up in Pampanga and nearby areas in Central Luzon victimizing salesman and distributors of cigarettes and other goods.
The suspects are detained at the Police Station 3 as charges of illegal possession of firearms, robbery with violence and intimidation were filed in court against them.
