Credit card leads to robbers’ fall

Four alleged robbers were arrested in Quezon City yesterday after they were seen in a surveillance camera video buying gasoline for their getaway car using their victim’s credit card.

Elpidio Rafael, 44; Francisco Penarubia, 23; Rael Ugtong, 55, and Michael Mariano, 48, reportedly robbed the house of Maria Filoteo in Barangay Quirino 2-B on Oct. 3. They were arrested in their homes in followup operations.

Investigators checked the closed- circuit television ( CCTV) footage on Friday after Filoteo notified them that her card was used in a transaction at a gasoline station in San Juan City, said Superintendent Wilson delos Santos, Anonas police station commander.

Delos Santos said police officers recognized Rafael from the video since he was among the station’s top 10 drug suspects. A sachet of shabu was found on the suspect’s person.

Rafael admitted to taking part in the robbery and identified his accomplices. He told police the loot was kept at Ugtong’s house in Barangay East Kamias.

Ugtong was arrested in his house along with Mariano after police officers found sachets said to contain shabu on the premises.

Police officers also recovered a Toyota BB (BDZ-992), the same car the suspects were seen using in the video.

After the three suspects were taken to the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, Rafael told police about Penarubia’s hideout in Barangay Botocan.

Penarubia was arrested with a sachet said to contain shabu as well as a man’s wallet, which was later confirmed to be one of the items stolen from the victim’s house.