Lieutenant Colonel Karen Clark, this town’s chief of police, said the the suspects were nabbed after after roving policemen received a tip that a robbery break-in was in progress.
“Nagpapatrol ang mga kapulisan natin nung tinawagan sila ng mga taga-palengke na may nangyayari ngang nakawan kaya agad tayong nakaresponde,” she said.
The arrested suspects were identified as Reneland Pangilinan, Jonar Sibug, Eric Pangilinan, Lester Mangila, and John Henry Simbulan.
Two more suspects identified as Joshua Jurado and Bill David Balagtas were still at large as of yesterday.
“May mga tinitignan pa kami na ibang suspects kaya tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang imbestigasyon,” Clark said.
Clark disclosed that the suspects’ modus operandi is to break-in the market stalls by destroying padlocks using bolt cutters in the middle of the night.
Valuable items such as money and goods will then be taken away by robbers.
On Sunday morning, local police led by Clark immediately presented to Mayor Rene Maglanque the arrested suspects.
Maglanque ordered the immediate investigation of the alleged series of robbery break-ins upon receiving report from market vendors.
He also instructed the local police to increase police visibility around the public market, especially at night time.
“Binigyan natin ng isang linggo ang kapulisan simula nung natanggap natin ang report ng nakawan at nakapag-comply naman sila. Maging babala ito sa mga masasamang loob na hindi sila pwede dito sa Candaba,” he said.