Ang Pahayagan

PAMPANGA — A coordinated and intelligence-driven police operation led to the arrest of seven robbery suspects and the recovery of stolen vaults and other evidence following a series of break-in incidents targeting commercial establishments in Central Luzon and Quezon City, police authorities reported.

The latest incident occurred in the early hours of January 12, 2026, when a convenience store in Barangay Dampulan, Jaen, Nueva Ecija was forcibly entered by unidentified suspects. Police said the perpetrators broke the store’s roll-up door and carted away a vault containing cash sales, assorted grocery items, and an electronic payment kiosk before fleeing.

Upon receiving the report, responding police units immediately activated flash alarms and launched hot-pursuit operations. Investigators also employed GPS monitoring and extensive CCTV backtracking, which proved crucial in tracing the suspects’ movements. These efforts resulted in the recovery of the stolen electronic payment kiosk later that morning in a grassy area along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Marilao, Bulacan.

Pursuit operations continued across jurisdictions, eventually leading law enforcement to a residential area in Novaliches, Quezon City. There, personnel of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), working closely with the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, located and arrested seven suspects.

Recovered during the operation were several firearms, tools allegedly used in the commission of the robberies, suspected illegal drugs, the suspects’ getaway vehicle, and assorted stolen items, including multiple vaults.

Further investigation revealed that the arrested individuals were also linked to earlier robbery incidents on January 2, 2026, in Quezon City. These incidents involved two gasoline stations where vaults containing approximately PHP72,000 and PHP340,000 were reportedly stolen.

The suspects were subsequently brought to the Jaen Municipal Police Station for proper investigation, documentation, and the filing of appropriate criminal charges.

Police Brig. General Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr., Regional Director of Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3), commended the police units involved for their persistence and seamless coordination, highlighting the vital contribution of QCPD personnel in locating the suspects.

“This case underscores the value of continuous pursuit, timely information sharing, and strong inter-agency coordination. From the initial report to the eventual arrests, the collective efforts of our police units were key to resolving the case and recovering the stolen property,” Peñones said.

The successful operation aligns with the Philippine National Police’s Focused Agenda, particularly in strengthening operational management, upholding integrity in police actions, and enhancing community safety through swift and coordinated law enforcement responses.

Police authorities assured the public that similar crimes will be met with immediate and sustained action, as law enforcement agencies remain committed to protecting businesses, communities, and public trust. (Jason de Asis)