Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) headed by PCol. Salvador Destura Jr. in cooperation with the City Government of Valenzuela led by Mayor WES Gatchalian have arrested one of the suspects responsible for three separate holdup incidents that happened in Barangay Marulas, March 27, 2023.

Less than a month after two CCTV footage of holdup incidents circulated online, Valenzuela City Police identified and arrested the 36-year-old suspect, Ferdinand Soliman from Sta. Cruz, Manila. Soliman was identified as the primary suspect in the riding-in-tandem holdup incidents in Barangay Marulas on March 16, 20, and 27, respectively while his unidentified accomplice had escaped. 

Two separate incidents of robbery holdup transpired on March 16, 2023, at around 2:00 AM in Dahlia Street, Barangay Marulas which victimized two university students, while another incident happened on March 20, 2023, at around 6:30 AM at Cordero Street, Barangay Marulas which victimized a minor female student and her mother. 

The aforementioned incidents were not immediately reported to the police because the victims feared for their safety and the threat of retaliation from the accused. However, without their knowledge or permission, CCTV footage of the incidents was posted on social media. As a result, Mayor WES promptly alerted the Valenzuela City Police Department to tighten security and boost police visibility and mobility around the city.

Marulas Substation, which has jurisdiction over the area, was subsequently given instructions to increase security deployment in crime-prone areas and to work with barangay tanods and other force multipliers to maintain peace and order. In addition to the station-level deployment, additional personnel and covert operatives were dispatched to support the Marulas Substation on a 24-hour basis.

The Valenzuela City Police found their break on March 27, at around 5:25 PM, when an Indian National was the victim of another riding-in-tandem holdup incident. The culprit was able to obtain PhP 4,500 from the victim, after which he and his accomplice hopped on a motorcycle and proceeded through MacArthur Highway toward Barangay Karuhatan. 

The victim immediately reported the incident to the Marulas substation, whose officers promptly checked the scene, while the Valenzuela City Police Station's Station Tactical Operation Center (STOC) conducted a "flash alarm" describing the motorcycle model, clothing, and helmets worn by the suspects, which resulted in the suspect's arrest. On March 28, the victims of the first two incidents, together with witnesses positively identified the suspect as the person in charge of the robbery incidents.

Soliman is facing charges of robbery with threats and intimidation, and also a violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

On April 14, Mayor WES and PCol. Destura Jr. met the victims of the holdup incidents where they presented updates and the current investigation status of the cases. 

In a Facebook post, Mayor WES said, “Isa sa aking mga pangunahing tungkulin bilang Ama ng Lungsod ay ang patuloy na pagsiguro sa kaligtasan ng bawat Pamilyang Valenzuelano kung kaya’t lagi po tayong nakatutok sa mga sitwasyong kaugnay ang seguridad ng ating mga mamamayan.” [One of my main responsibilities as the father of the city is to continue the assurance of every Valenzuelano Family’s safety, that is why we are always on top of situations regarding our citizens’ safety.] Nawa’y maging babala ito sa lahat ng mga nagbabalak na gumawa ng anumang katiwalian sa Lungsod Valenzuela. Hindi palalampasin ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ang mga krimen kagaya nito. [May this serve as a warning to those who are planning to do crimes here in Valenzuela City. The city government will not treat these kind of crimes lightly.], he added. 

In a statement, VCPS chief PCol. Destura Jr. said, “Nananawagan po kami sa mga iba pang nabiktima ng holdap sa lungsod lalo na po sa Barangay Marulas na tumungo sa ating headquarters sa MacArthur Highway, Barangay Karuhatan upang ma-identify ang arrested suspect kung ito rin po ang nakapangbiktima sa kanila.” [We are asking the other holdup victims here in the city, especially those in Barangay Marulas, to come here to our headquarters in MacArthur Highway, Barangay Karuhatan to check if the arrested suspect is also the one responsible in your cases.]

With this, Mayor WES Gatchalian and the Valenzuela City Police highly encourage the citizens to personally file a formal incident report to the Valenzuela City Police Station whenever these kinds of incidents happen to increase the chances of arresting the suspects as early as possible. 

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