Suspect in P30 M Pasig heist surrenders to Bicol police

By Cet Dematera

One of the suspects in the daring robbery of P30 million cash inside the house of a couple in Pasig City on Dec 18 robbery of P30-million voluntarily surrendered recently to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol, a police statement said.

MGen. Jonnel Estomo, Bicol police director, identified the suspect as Roel Galan, 36, a driver residing in Barangay Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Estomo said Galan was surrendered by Bulusan, Sorsogon Vice Mayor Reuel Fortades to Police Major Jake Peralta of the Police Regional Office 5.

Galan was allegedly one of the suspects who barged into the house of Joana Marie Espiritu, 26, and her Japanese partner Kani Toshiro,42, at Sta. Elvira St., in Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

The suspects forced at gunpoint Toshiro to open a vault containing P30 million cash and expensive cellphones.

Galan and at least eight other suspects had stolen the cash money and escaped immediately.

Four of the eight suspects, earlier arrested by the Pasig City police, were identified as PSSG Jayson Bartolome, PCpl Merick Desoloc, PCpl Christian Jerome Reyes, and Patrolman Kirk Joshua Almojera, all members of the Pasig City police force.

Also arrested was AJ Mary Agnas, an employee of the victims who connived with the suspects in staging the robbery.

Galan was brought back to Pasig City on-board an airplane of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) that took off the newly-operational Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Daraga, a town adjacent to Legazpi City.

Estomo said that the surrender of Galan was an offshoot of a close coordination between the Bulusan local government unit and the police.

“When Galan expressed his intention to surrender to the police, the officials of Bulusan had immediately facilitated the peaceful surrender of the suspect,” Estomo said.

Estomo is known for his immediate action in order to solve crimes in Bicol.