Rookie cops arrest 5 bus pickpockets in Makati

Five pickpocket suspects, who allegedly prey on bus passengers, were arrested by four rookie policemen in Makati City on Thursday night.

Chief Insp. Gideon Ines Jr., Makati police assistant chief of police for administration (ACOPA), identified the suspects as Romero Flores, 31; Ramil Bitoy, 34; John Paul Perez, 39; Richie Reyes, 27; and Roel “Kokoy” Rustan, 48, the alleged leader of their group.

The arresting officers were PO1 Eric Martinez; PO1 Norie Galit; PO1 Joven Pindog; and PO1 Gemar Garcia, Ines said noting that they are all rookie policemen.

Around 10 p.m., the five suspects victimized nine passengers of a bus travelling along EDSA-Buendia.

Two victims, identified as Allen Karl Casin, 20, and Manuel Abediano, 45, reported the incident to the four cops stationed in the area, prompting the police officers to flag down the bus to apprehend the five pickpocket suspects.

Ines said Rustan was arrested in November last year for pickpocketing and was only out on bail. He furthered that Rustan is a veteran in doing the crime.

“They always get away with this because it is a bailable offence. In most cases, they get free because complainants do not attend hearings that leads to dismissal of the cases filed against them,” Ines told the Manila Bulletin.

“This time, nine were victimized by them, but only two people want to pursue a case against them,” he added.

Ines said if people keep on tolerating such abuse, pickpockets will continue.

“We learned that their group is being protected by former cops. We are now probing this,” he said.

Nine cellular phones taken from the victims were later retrieved from the suspects.