The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea
 
The Kuratong Baleleng Gang
(The Untouchables – first of two parts)

On December 1995 a highly syndicated violent carnap-kidnap-bank robbery-group, the Kuratong Baleleng Gang - Solido Group, emerged to sow terror in Metro Manila. Its heavily armed members forcibly take the vehicles from their lawful owners for use to other crimes.

The gang figured prominently in series of bank robbery, armoured van robberies, pawn shop and jewelry shop robberies, famous of which was the Milady jewelry shop robbery. Noted was the gang’s ferocity to gun down security guards and bank personnel without hesitation.

Then Police Chief Inspector Renato G. Laurinaria, Commander of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) SOU/TF Limbas, formed a team of ANCAR Operatives to track down this gang. An “Order of Battle” (OB) was likewise undertaken to assist local police where carjacking and armed robberies are frequent.

On February 2, 1996, a brief running gun-battle ensued at Banawe St., Quezon City between TF Limbas operatives and members of the carjack-group. But traffic congestion hampered the pursuing police enabling the suspects to escape leaving behind their getaway carjacked-vehicle.

The recovery of the wanted motor vehicle gave the HPG/TF Limbas operatives a glimpse of the personal belongings left behind by the notorious group like pay-parking tickets, gas receipts, expressway entrance and exit tickets and receipts for unnecessary expenses.

But the ambush-slaying of two anti-carjacking TMG-NCR operatives at Rodriguez St., Quezon City on February 5, 1996, caused an animosity between PCI Laurinaria and then TMG Director P/Supt. Romeo Maganto. Laurinaria was relieved. But on June 8, 1996, the new TMG Director reinstalled him.

It paved the way for the discovery of unusual operation of the Kuratong Baleleng-Solido Gang. Three (3) gasoline receipts stood out most as they pointed that the notorious group had been frequenting a gasoline station located right inside Fort Bonifacio.

This enabled PCI Laurinaria to conclude that members of this group could either be active and dismissed military and/or police personnel. The TF Limbas ANCAR operatives were soon directed to focus their monitoring efforts inside the Fort Bonifacio.

At an unholy hour of the morning of June 24, 1996, a Mitsubishi Lancer GXLi with plate number TKA-706 reported as carjacked was spotted inside the parking area of the General Headquarters of Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.

On the very same day at about 6:00 pm, an Army Captain was about to drive off the wanted vehicle when arrested. His arrest bolstered the suspicion that the AFP and the PNP have connection with this Kuratong Baleleng Gang and thus known as the “Solido Group.”

Before the SOU/TF Limbas investigators could extract vital information from the arrested army captain, his “mistah’s” at the TMG (now HPG) intervened and took custody of him. This denied ANCAR operatives their much needed information as to the existence of this notorious group.

On July 2, 1996, along Bangkal St., Makati City, at around 11:30 am, another brief gun-battle ensued between TF Limbas and the Kuratong Gang members. It ended with the capture of five gang members and recovery of two carjacked vehicles. A sketch map of the ASIAN bank in Buendia Ave. was also found.

At 4:00 pm of October 31, 1996, a bloody shoot-out between the group and the police took place at Timog Ave., Quezon City resulting to the total damage of two police vehicles by M203 grenade launchers fired by the gang. Four (4) TMGs have been wounded but two Kuratong members were killed and one captured.

Pressed as to who the ”BIG BOSSES” were,  the five arrested Kuratong Baleleng Gang members pointed to a Joel Arnan alyas ‘Jojo’ and the previously arrested Army Captain as the persons who could best identify the “BIG BOSSES” of the syndicate.

But the taking up of captured members alive, proved too costly for Laurinaria. As they were about to jump-off for the arrest of gang leader “Joel Arnan,” a “trump-up” case that has long been fabricated against him was immediately laid down for his arrest. Worse, the arresting team was led by P/General Romeo Maganto now assigned at the DILG.

Surprisingly, when PCI Laurinaria was relieved, the captured Kuratong  member was remitted to another jail and was reported later to have escaped. The records of the arrested Army Captain also disappeared from the file and can no longer be found.

 (Next: The Expendable))