Notorious Dagupan Robbers Nab

DAGUPAN CITY – Two notorious robbers in this city who victimized unsuspecting nighttime pedestrians have been arrested recently by the police.

Ferdinand Policarpio Bambalan, 20, and Bandolf Sabangan Brumela were arrested by law enforcers at 11:00 pm last Sunday when they held up Michael Angelo Belen Flores, 26, while walking at the Magsaysay Bridge in the east direction where Victory Liner Terminal can be found.

Mr. Flores said that around 9:30 pm of the same day, the two suspects pounced on him from behind where Bambalan’s hand locked his neck with his one hand and pointed the sharp tip of his knife with his other hand to his lower torso.

“Pre, pre cellphone mo!, “Bambanan threateningly declared the robbery while his knife cut the skin of the victim.

ROBBERS - Ferdinand Policarpio Bambalan, 20, and Bandolf Sabangan Brumela, two notorious robbers in Dagupan City, are handcuffed after they were arrested by policemen who identified them through the footages of the security camera at the barangay hall of Barangay Pogo Chico when they were fleeing last Sunday night after they mugged Michael Angelo Flores, 26, at the Magsaysay Bridge in Dagupan City. 

The victim said that Brumela took his black Samsung Note 4 hand phone worth P15, 000 in the market and frisked him and took his wallet with P500 bill inside.

“Tumakbo na sila. Sinundan ko po silang tumatakbo sumisigaw po ako ng “hold up, hold up!”

He said the tricycle drivers who customarily parked their vehicles in front of 7-11 only shouted to the absconding hold uppers.

But the two malefactors continued to run toward a pathway near the Sterling Bank in Rizal Extension going to Zamora.

“Eksakto po natsambahan ko nag papatrol po iyong mobile car ng kapulisan tapos pinara ko,” the victim recalled.

Flores said the police accompanied him at the barangay hall of Pogo Chico and reviewed the footages of the security cameras that were installed at the routes the robbers fled.

“Ni review po namin iyong CCTV ng Barangay 4 po, nakita po tumatakbo po sila na tinangal na po nila iyong mga jackets nila para hindi sila mamukhaan”.

The tanod (village security man) told them that he knew the duo and they were at the Mercury Drugs Store near the University of Luzon.

He cited that when they approached Bambalan and Brumela who were conversing with the security guard of the Drugs Store, Bambalan hid a thing at a box near him.

“Siya po ang nakita ko na ang tinatago po siya. Tapos sinabi ko sa police habang inaaresto iyong nahulihan. Tapos doon po nila na confirm na cell phone ko”.

But his wallet and the money could not be found, narrated by Flores a resident of Barangay Tapuac here and who is the grandson of former Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Belen.

The duo, residents of Sitio Maliwawa in Barangay Pogo Chico, was charged with robbery and with illegal possession of bladed, pointed, and blunt weapon.
Each of them was meted by the inquest prosecutor with a P100, 000 bail for their temporary liberty

Another victim of Bambalan and Brumela said that they were the same men who held him up near the police precinct in Barangay Tapuac at 8:30 pm last April 25 this year.

The 23 year old victim said that while he was walking home, Bambalan, clad in a black dress and red short pants, locked his neck with his left hand while his right hand pointed a long knife to his lower right torso.

“(A)nd declared hold-up ordering the victim to give his cell-phone J7 Core Samsung colored grey worth Php 9,990 with Sim No. 09330204421 with earphone attached to the suspects companion, thereafter suspects immediately ran toward Perez Boulevard,” a police blotter certification documented.

He cited Brumela, wearing a white tee shirt, took his mobile phone and earphones.

The victim had a bruised on his right elbow from the knife of Bambalan.

"After they threatened and left me I ran toward the police substation a few yards near I was held up but there were no cops manning it," he deplored.

Sources told this newspaper said that these hold uppers hang around the overpass near the city high school or nearby waiting for their prey who did not report the incidents to the police.
"Marami na po na ho-hold up diyan hindi lang nag re-report sa police," the crew of a cafe shop, who asked for anonymity, said.

Flores said a crew member of McDonalds in Barangay Tapuac was robbed by the same people.

CORPUS DELICTI (THE BODY OF A CRIME) - The Samsung Note 4 hand phone worth P15, 000 in the market of Michael Angelo Flores and the Batangas -styled knife of Ferdinand Policarpio Bambalan.