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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Tolentino Criminal Gang behind Davao City pawnshop heist – cops

Tolentino Criminal Gang behind Davao City pawnshop heist – cops

Published Mar 6, 2025 08:38 am

DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Police Office has tagged the Tolentino Criminal Gang as behind the broad daylight pawnshop robbery here on Feb. 26.

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MARANTAN (Keith Bacongco)

DCPO chief Police Col. Hansel Marantan said in a press conference on Thursday, March 6, that most of the suspects have been involved in past robberies.

One of the suspects, Johnny Bulawan, was captured in a hot-pursuit operation after the incident here. Police have identified seven other suspects but they are still at large. The suspects carted away pieces of jewelry valued at P100 million.

Marantan identified the group's leader as Marvin Beronguis.

The DCPO chief said that some of the suspects were from Northern Mindanao.

Marantan disclosed that Bulawan was jailed for his involvement in robberies in Metro Manila.

He said that the Tolentino Criminal Gang was a splinter group of the Ozamiz City-based Parojinog robbery group.

After the Parojinog group was dismantled, Marantan said some younger members organized their own criminal operations.

The Tolentino Criminal Gang is said to be one of the groups involved in the robbery-holdup of a courier company in Metro Manila, he added.

"I've been fighting this group since 2004 in Manila. I know what they are capable of, these are monsters," said Marantan who was wounded in a shootout with a criminal group in 2013.

The Feb. 26 incident sparked criticisms against the security sector here.

Insinuations circulated on social media that the incident was meant to tarnish the image of this city touted as one of the safest in Asia.

Marantan apologized to the pawnshop owners and the public for lapses in security measures here.

He assured the public that the security sector has recalibrated measures to prevent similar incidents.

Marantan assured that they are collaborating with police units in other regions in tracking down the other suspects.

Police recovered the getaway vehicle of the suspects in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental on March 4. Gingoog is 350 kilometers north of this city. 

Appropriate charges are now being prepared prepared against Bulawan and his cohorts, Marantan said.  

Also present in the press conference were the owners of the pawnshop and their lawyer.

Related Tags

Davao City Pawnshop Robbery Col. Hansel Marantan
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