CAMP BGEN. VICENTE LIM, Laguna -- Four members of a notorious organized criminal gang who were responsible for a series of theft and robbery incidents in Calabarzon fell into the hands of the police here on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
The arrested suspects were identified as Alberth Solana Santos, 44, gang leader and financier, and a resident of Block 21 Lot 1 Arellano Street, Lessandra Heights, Molino IV, Bacoor, Cavite; Remy Ilayat Santos, 42, wife of Alberth; Joey Aguirre Masayon alias ‘Jojo,’ 45, a resident of Purok 5, Muena St., Alabang, Muntinlupa; and Jimmy Aguirre Masayon, 48, a resident of Purok 1, Brgy. Dela Paz, Biñan, Laguna.
The suspects are all members of the ‘Basag Bukas Kotse Gang’ which had been operating in Laguna and Cavite and in Metro Manila.
The other members of the gang who managed to elude arrest were identified as Jose Aguirre Masayon and Joval Valentin, said Calabarzon regional PRO- director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez.
Two of the suspects, Joey Aguirre Masayon alias ‘Jojo’ and Jimmy Aguirre Masayon, have standing warrants.
Alias ‘Jojo’ has a standing warrant for theft and malicious mischief while Jimmy Aguirre Masayon has a standing warrant of arrest for theft.
Brig. Gen. Nartatez said that the latest victim of the suspects was a Toyota Fortuner owned by lawyer Henry B. Salazar which was ransacked by the suspects while parked unattended at San Antonio Drive in front of Takara Hotel, Brgy. San Antonio, San Pedro City, Laguna, at about midnight on December 29, 2022.
The combined police investigators were able to arrest the suspects one after the other in a continuing hot pursuit operation that stemmed from a valuable breakthrough provided by the victim within 24 hours.
The operation led in the recovery of the Toyota Fortuner with plate number NDI 9858, a black Mazda with plate number UTX-319, a unit of Glock 19 pistol with magazine loaded with ammunition, a Taurus pistol with two magazines loaded with ammunition, a Norinco NP17 .9mm pistol loaded with eight bullets, a 1911 A1 caliber .45 pistol loaded with six ammunition, a MacBook Air laptop, ThinkPad laptop, Dell laptop, Huawei tablet, two laptop bags, four cellular phones, two cell phone chargers, seven charger cords, a brown leather bag, sling bag, three wallets, six coin purses and cash amounting to P6,600.
The suspects are now facing charges for robbery, illegal possession of firearms (RA 10591) and violation of Anti-Fencing Law (PD 1612).
Police records showed that six previous Basag/Bukas-Kotse cases in Laguna and Cavite are being collated with the evidence recovered for filing of additional robbery charges against the suspects.
One of the Basag Bukas Kotse incidents that went viral and allegedly perpetrated by suspects was committed against actress Loisa Andalio and Actor Ronie Alonte in Molino Road, Brgy. Molino 3, Bacoor, Cavite on November 30, 2022.
The suspects stole two iPhone 11 and an iPhone 13 from the couple after the suspects broke the right rear passenger window of the victims’ Jeep Wrangler Wagon.
Nartatez Jr. commended the quick response of the operatives of PRO4A.
“Tunay na kahanga hanga ang mabilis na aksyon na ginawa ng ating mga kapulisan. This truly shows our commitment to deliver our duties especially this holiday season,” said Nartatez.