MANILA — Four heavily armed men, including a former Philippine Army corporal, were arrested in Catanauan, Quezon early Thursday morning, with police linking them to a robbery of a convenience store in Trece Martires City, Cavite.
Philippine National Police Public Information Office chief PCol. Allen Rae Co said the store was robbed on Wednesday.
He said Trece Martires police found through "forward and backtracking of CCTVs" that the suspects were headed to Quezon province.
Authorities immediately coordinated with police units in Quezon.
On Thursday, police also received information about a group of armed and suspicious men staying at a hotel in Catanauan.
“Meron po nag-report in the town of Catanauan na meron pong isang grupo ng mga lalaki na armado na suspicious po, so napagdikit na this is the same group na nagsagawa ng pag-hold up sa Trece Martires,” Co said.
The operation, conducted by the Catanauan Municipal Police Station with other Quezon police units, resulted in the arrest of four men.
One of them is a former Philippine Army corporal who has reportedly been AWOL since 2011.
Police recovered an M16 rifle, two .45-caliber pistols, a Colt Super .38 revolver, magazines containing 35 live rounds, and two hand grenades.
Two rifle grenades and two live rounds for an M203 grenade launcher were also recovered from a black vehicle allegedly used by the group.
Police said the vehicle matched the one seen in connection with the store robbery in Cavite.
The suspects reportedly admitted to the robbery during police questioning, according to Co.
However, authorities are still reconciling the amount allegedly taken from the store.
“It was originally reported by Dali na around P100,000 but sabi naman nitong mga ano ay P28,000 lang nakuha nila so we are trying to reconcile the details but what’s important they readily admitted na sila nga ‘yung gumawa,” Co said.
Authorities are also looking into the group’s possible involvement in other robbery incidents.
Police are likewise investigating whether the four suspects are part of a larger robbery group and tracing the ownership and registration of the firearms recovered from them.
The suspects are set to face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and RA 9516 concerning illegal possession of explosives.