3 robbers in series of thefts in Angara-owned hotel, other inns nabbed by Aurora cops

CAMP RAVINA, Aurora – Three suspected robbers believed behind the string of robberies at the Costa Pacifica Hotel owned by former senator Edgardo Angara and other lodging houses in this capital town since last month were arrested by operatives of the Baler police here Monday, police said.

Senior Superintendent Elmer Bantog, provincial police director, identified two of the suspects as Joel Garcia, 21, Cesar Belen, 18, and an unidentified minor, all of Barangay Nonong, San Luis town.

Police Inspector Robert Ramos Prado, Baler police chief, said the three were rounded off by the PNP’s Task Force Sabang Economic Tourist Area (SETA).

Prado formed the task force to keep watch over the peace and order situation along the shoreline that stretches along Sabang Beach where lodging houses, inns, hotels for transients are housed aside from restaurants and bars.

Seized from the possession of the suspects were several expensive gadgets and devices, including ipads and three mobile phones.  Aside from that, items retrieved from them included three units of cellphone and one Samsung Camera.

The task force operatives utilized a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking device to track down the suspects.

Prado said the suspects were believed responsible for the string of theft and robbery incidents at Costa Pacifica in the early morning of December 22, 2014 where they stashed away P115,000 worth of cash belonging to employees; the December 28 looting of the Ysnow Best Inn where P87,000 was carted away and the December 17,2014 twin dawn robberies at the Nalu Surf Transient House and the Rushie’s Point Lodge.

Prado said the trio were also linked to the burglary inside the Melissa’s Lodge transient house the early morning of January 11, 2015 where the suspects took away an Iphone, a camera and P80,000 worth of cash.

They managed to gain entry inside the lodging house after its occupants set up a tent outside.

Prado said the suspects’ spree, if left unchecked, would dampen the image of Baler and the province as an emerging tourist mecca.

 “With their arrests, the series of thefts and robbery incidents in hotels and establishments lining Sabang beach is now practically over,” he said. (Manny Galvez)