ANGELES CITY — Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has lauded the combined elements of the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), headed by PCol. Amado Mendoza Jr., and Meycauayan, Bulacan police for the arrest of four suspects in the robberies involving Korean nationals here.
In an ACPO report dated December 31, 2024, Police Major Marlon C. Ventus, noted that “during follow up investigation and review of CCTV footages within the vicinity of the incidents,” Police Station 4 “confirmed that there were individuals roaming around our area and committing nefarious activities such as robbery.”
Ventus said the four suspects were not residents of Angeles City.
In a related development, Ventus said the Meycauayan Police Station on December 28, 2024, had arrested four suspects for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Law and RA 9165 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The four suspects, including three active PNP members, were arrested along El Camino Road, Brgy Perez, Meycauyan, Bulacan. They were identified as Pat Reineil Basilio Panuelos, an AWOL PNP member, 34 years old, and a resident of 2424 Sitio Matarik, Camarin, Caloocan City; PCpl Jayson Medallada Benitez, 30 years old, of Phase 8, Package 3, Block 50, Lot 1, Brgy 176, Caloocan City; PSSg Mark Raian Vicente Dugay, 37 years old, of Brixton Ville, Brgy 175, Camarin, Caloocan City; and PSSg Noriel Macaraeg Lucena, 32 years old, of Navarro St., Ross Villa, Brgy 177, Caloocan City.
Ventus said the four suspects are currently detained at the Meycauayan Police Station.
Formal charges had already been lodged against the four suspects at the Meycauayan City Prosecutor’s Office under Docket No. III-08-INQ-24-L-00456 duly signed by Asst. City Prosecutor Marie Claire Therese C. Lambino.
Ventus said ACPO has coordinated with the Meycauayan Police and verified the four suspects “have resemblance, based on the motorcycle used, clothes they were wearing, physical features” based on CCTV footages obtained from the place of incidents in Angeles City.
Ventus said ACPO remains vigilant to ensure “safety and security of our constituents and foreign nationals.”
On the instruction of Mayor Lazatin, then Acting Mayor Ma. Vicenta Vega-Cabigting has directed the ACPO to solve the robberies targeting Korean nationals within 48 hours.
The robbery incidents were reported between November and December 2024 and four armed men aboard motorcycles had been targeting Korean nationals.
“These incidents are unacceptable, especially during a season when our community should feel safe and secure,” Mayor Lazatin said. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors alike, and we will hold those responsible accountable.”
Lazatin has congratulated the ACPO and Bulacan PNP for having solved the robberies.
