By Alexandria San Juan
Four suspected robbers who allegedly took more than P13 million worth of luxury items and cash inside two condominium units of a public relations agent were arrested by the Quezon City police on Sunday.
This was after complainant Bernard Cloma, 51, PR agent of boxing champ Senator Manny Pacquiao, reported to police that his two units in a condominium building at Mother Ignacia Avenue, Barangay South Triangle were ransacked and several items were missing.
Cloma said he only discovered the incident last July 28 when he arrived home from Las Vegas, USA after watching the boxing match of Pacquiao and Keith Thurman.
The victim noticed that the doorknob of his unit on the 23rd floor was unlocked while his personal items inside the room were in disarray. He also checked his rented unit at the 26th floor where he found out that some of his belongings were also stolen prompting him to report the incident to authorities.
Operatives of QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) and Kamuning Police Station (PS-10) immediately conducted an investigation regarding the incident.
During probe, one of the security guards mentioned that a certain Jimwell Bondoc rented two different units last July 19 to 20, and July 25 to 27, and has moved out prior to the discovery of incident.
The guard added that Bondoc was always fetched by a red Toyota Vios which was traced by authorities to a certain Dennis Co.
According to Co, Bondoc left with him assorted wrist watches, jewelry and bags for safekeeping. He also told police the whereabouts of the suspect.
Policemen went to Paradise Hotel at 588 Tomas Morato Avenue around 2:30 p.m., Sunday where Bondoc was seen with a caliber 9mm pistol tucked on his waist.
When he was approached by authorities, Bondoc admitted the crime and led the team to his room where Eric Eulogio and April Gonzales were found having a shabu session.
A caliber .45 Armscor and ammunition were seized from Eulogio.
Bondoc also named his other cohort, Pierre Lansang, who was hiding at Co's residence along Del Monte Avenue in Barangay St. Peter where he was eventually arrested.
The four suspects were brought to CIDU in Camp Karingal where the complainant positively identified during their confrontation that the wrist watch and shoes worn by Lansang and the belt bag worn by Bondoc were his.
Cloma also told police that the recovered wrist watches, shoes and bags from the suspects were those stolen in his units.
In a press conference on Monday, QCPD chief BGen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., said the incident was planned and organized by the group believed to be victimizing condo owners by befriending them first.
It also appears that Bondoc was a close friend of the complainant and seemed to be tracking his activities prior to the incident, police said.
Items stolen from Cloma were various luxury bags, perfumes, watches and shoes amounting to more than P13 million, which he said he was selling online.
Different foreign currency amounting to €3,000, £5,000, and US$ 2,000 were also stolen by the suspects.
Cases for robbery, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal drug charges were filed against the suspects.
Follow-up investigation is also ongoing to identify other possible cohorts of the suspects and to recover the other missing items.#