ANGELES CITY – A former houseboy who turned against his employers was nabbed by the police with seven others after a foiled robbery in Barangay Balibago here at dawn Saturday.
Cesar Baldonado Jr. alias Nonoy, 18, a former houseboy, was arrested with seven others including his own father, Baldonado Sr., 46, alias Sasi, of Northville in the City of san Fernando in what the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) described as members of the notorious “Burnok Gang.”
The other suspects were identified as Mark Anthony Elizalde, 26, alias Jason of Caloocan City; Josua Lumtao, 50, alias Ernesto “Erning” Labadia and Buddy of Caloocan City; Solomon Diaz, 40, alias Mon of Fairview, Quezon City; Abraham Desaca, 39, alias Russel of Novaliches, Quezon City; Jonas Alegria, 19, of Quezon City; and the group’s leader Ronnie Morillo, 22, alias Burnok and Angel of Malanday, Marikina City.
CIDG Director Chief Supt. Francisco Uyami Jr. said a tip from an informant led to the arrest of the group as they were fleeing from the house of Atty. Jonathan Javate at Mt. View Subdivision, Melba St., Barangay Balibago here.
The group were on board a light blue Toyota Innova (TQD 596) which they took at gun-point in Manila before committing the robbery.
Police investigation showed that the group waited outside the residence of Javate, chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in the City of San Fernando, knowing that his son Jaren, 23, is yet to come home.
When Jaren finally arrived, the fully armed suspects immediately followed him inside the house and went directly to the lawyer’s bedroom pointing a gun to the housemaid and another househelp.
The victim’s wife, Rose, said her husband was asleep at that time and was awakened by the commotion. Rose said her husband grappled for the gun from the suspect and was shot in the left ear.
Joriel, 28, eldest son of Javate, said when they heard the gunshot they rushed to their parents’ bedroom but were met by another gunfire. He said it was fortunate that nobody was hit as the robbers started to flee by firing another shot.
The gunshots alerted the police who were already monitoring the area from a tipster.
At this point, police operatives led by the CIDG – Anti-Organized Crime Division, Angeles City Police Office (ACPO) and the Pampanga Regional Office 3 (PRO 3) blocked the fleeing suspects. They were led by Supt. Agosto P. Daskeo; Senior Insp. Romeo R. Lanzarote; Senior Insp. Layugan; Chief Insp. Leoncio l. Senense; and Supt. Roger Tomen.
The suspects yielded four handguns with live ammunition, two fragmentation grenades, a Swiss army knife, a kitchen knife, and pieces of plastic ties among others.
Joriel said Baldonado Jr. was their houseboy for two months and was fired last January after being suspected of using illegal drugs.
Uyami said the group was also responsible for a series of criminal activities including robbery with double homicide in Mariveles City, Bataan on July 14, 2012; frustrated homicide against ABS-CBN technical director Crisologo Pangan on Feb. 25, 2012; murder of two barangay tanods in Arayat, Pampanga on April 13, 2012; murder of Benito Evangelista Jr. along Earnshaw Street in Sampaloc, Manila on March 18, 2012; robbery with homicide along Agrimar Street, Barangay Sto. Nino, Marikina, robbery with frustrated homicide along F. Manalo Street, Dela Paz, Pasig City; the murder of live-in partner Monica Garcia and Graciano Carino along Reposo corner Kalayaan Street Malanday, Marikina City on April 29, 2012 and robbery in Barangay Gitnang Bayan 1, San Mateo Rizal on June 18, 2012.
Uyami said the arrest of the suspects was part of CIDG-AOCD COPLAN Burnok.
He said the group was under surveillance for two weeks after a tipster informed them of a possible target in this city.
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan commended the police “for acting with dispatch” that resulted to the arrest of the suspects.
“I would like to commend General Uyami, Senior Supt. Jose Hidalgo (Angeles City Police Chief), and the CIDG and police operatives who participated in the arrest of the suspects,” Pamintuan said. ”There is no substitute for an active police force in safeguarding the citizenry.”
