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Notorious rob gang leader, members slain in clash

By Pat C. Santos

10/31/2009

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Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas have killed the leader of a notorious armed robbery group identified as Alvin Flores and three of his men in a gunbattle at the group’s hiding place at Dodongs Resort Estaca in Compostela, Cebu at 5 p.m. on the afternoon of Oct. 29.

This was announced by NBI Director Nestor Mantaring and Police Supt. Eugene Martin of the Directorate for Intelligence of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during a brief press conference held at the NBI Headquarters in Manila yesterday.

After the daring heist at the Greenbelt 5 shopping mall in Makati recently, Mantaring immediately ordered a manhunt for Alvin Flores and his group, prompting NBI operatives to pursue the trail from Antipolo to Bulacan and Pampanga, ending up in Mandaue City, Cebu where one of the members of the group was spotted and tailed that eventually paved the way for discovering the gang’s hideout.

The group, according to Mantaring, engaged NBI operatives in a shootout to escape the dragnet set up by the operatives, resulting in the death of its leader, Alvin Flores, and members Richie Gigante Hijapon, Marc Alejandro and Roger Sanchez.

Another member of the gang identified as Rene Batiencela was arrested during the operation. He has an outstanding warrant of arrest for illegal possession of firearms issued by Judge Alma Crispina Lacorte of Caloocan City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 51.

Recovered form the battle scene were one M-16 rifle, one KG 9, caliber 9mm, machine pistol, two caliber 45 pistols and the getaway vehicle of the group, a silver Toyota Revo (XGE 164).

The remains of the fatalities are at present being autopsied at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Parlor on Junquera Street, Cebu City.

Batiencela is now under the custody of the NBI Central Visayas Regional Office and will be charged for his involvement in the Rolex Store robbery incident at Greenbelt 5 and the robbery incident in four warehouses in Pasig City and robbery attempt at Pepsi Cola, Manila.

Included in the series of robberies staged by the group are: Waltermart, Munoz, Quezon City, Union Bank, Makati, RC Cola, Valenzuela City, Semicon, Pasig City and Four Warehouse in Pasig City.