PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — PHILIPPINE National Police chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa yesterday ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to launch special operations to assist the National Capital Region Police Office in the massive manhunt for Alvin Flores and his men.
PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Leonardo A. Espina said the CIDG is mobilizing its intelligence network in the communities and reviewing its database of criminals to locate the notorious mall heist leader.
CIDG operatives are checking hospitals and clinics in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon to trace a member of the gang believed to have been wounded in the firefight with the close-in security of Taguig Mayor Freddie Tiñga, Espina said.
The PNP earlier put up a P500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Flores and his men behind a series of armed robberies in Metro Manila.
The PNP Directorate for Intelligence under Director Eugene Martin has sought the inclusion of Flores in the DILG-PNP reward system for wanted persons.
Flores gained notoriety for the daring robbery at the Walter Mart supermarket in Quezon City and at the Greenbelt 5 mall.
Espina said CIDG investigators are also reviewing video footages taken by CCTV monitors inside the posh Makati mall.
4 mall robbers identified
Police yesterday said they have identified four of the armed robbers who broke inside the Rolex store in Greenbelt 5 mall.
Southern Police District director Chief Supt. Jaime Calungsod said the heist was led by Flores himself, also known as “Bunso” “Lester” and “Engr. Dave Maceda,” along with his so-called Waray-waray gang men.
The other three were identified as Roland de la Cruz, Walter Mutia, and the slain suspect Armando Domingo. They were identified through their pictures captured by the mall’s CCTV cameras.
Domingo was positively identified by his aunt but his body remained unclaimed at the Veronica Funeral Homes in Pasay.
Police said Domingo was a former member of the New People’s Army. He surrendered to the authorities and joined the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit.
Calungsod believes the P500,000 bounty on the head of Flores will lead to his immediate arrest. |
A Special Investigation Task Group was formed by the PNP to locate the rob gang boss.
As of yesterday, the agents were scouring Metro Manila and nearby provinces where the suspects are believed to be hiding.