STA. BARBARA–Three persons believed to be members of a gang responsible for a series of robbery-holdups along the highways in Pangasinan during the past months have been arrested.

Supt. Mateo Casupang, chief of police of Sta. Barbara, said the suspects were arrested after they held up three persons in the early morning of Friday in barangay Tuliao, Sta. Barbara while waiting to board a bus bound for Manila.

 The suspects, all members of the so-called “Bonnet Gang” were riding in tandem on a motorcycle that was later verified from the Land  Transportation Office in Dagupan City to have been stolen and registered in the name of a couple.

A subsequent operation conducted by the Sta. Barbara police and from San Carlos City and Basista later that day led to the arrest of Crispin Payopay, 32; and Reynante Peralta, 24, both of San Carlos City.

The two named their companion as Orlando Malicdem, 36, who was subsequently arrested by the police at their safehouse in Ambrosio St., Poblacion, Urdaneta City.

 Seized from the suspects were bonnets, camouflage uniforms of policemen and soldiers, muffler and two motorcycles, believed to have been stolen.

 Casupang said the suspects were identified by Army Major Rolando Garin as the men who held him up, shot and wounded him in barangay Tuliao Sta. Barbara two weeks ago.

Casupang said the arrested suspects may have been responsible for the other robbery-holdups perpetrated in Urdaneta, Dagupan and San Carlos cities, Basista, Villasis, Malasiqui, Lingayen and other towns in Pangasinan.

Casupang called on other victims of the gang to come to his office and identify the three suspects so the cases can be filed against them in court.

All the suspects have already been charged before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Dagupan City.

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