Following the neutralization of the notorious Alvin Flores robbery gang, police shifted its focus to local politicians suspected of coddling criminal syndicates which they allegedly use to raise election campaign funds.

The long suspected symbiotic relationship between criminal syndicates and politicians was brought into focus anew following the alleged involvement of a Pangasinan mayor in the operation of the notorious Alvin Flores Group tagged in several daring heists in Metro Manila, including the Greenbelt 5 in Makati City last month and Waltermart mall in Quezon in September.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said they are also looking into reports that some gangs were acting as private goons of local chief executives during the campaign and election periods aside from contributing the campaign funds.

“We should investigate all of these and probably look at other personalities and other local chief executives that may be maintaining some scrupulous persons,” said Verzosa in an interview.

“We should expand the investigation as to who might be coddling some criminal elements because these criminal elements might be converted to goons during elections,” he said.

By providing election necessities to local politicians, Verzosa said criminal syndicates help fund campaigns of some politicos as a means of ensuring protection against police operations.

Verzosa said that while there is no strong evidence so far proving that some local official bankrolled the operation of Alvin Flores Gang, they are now establishing earlier reports that the same politician took good care of one of the gang members when he was wounded in earlier robberies.

He said they will be banking on the confession that would be made a member of the Alvin Flores Gang who was captured and the other one who surrendered in preparing the possible case against the local chief executive.

They are looking into possibility that other local politicians have also benefited from the illegal operation of the Alvin Flores Gang which was busted following the death of its leader and three members in an operation in Cebu province late last month.

“There are now revelations being given by the one who has surrendered and we will be investigating the circumstances of his admission and the probable involvement of other personalities, if there are political personalities or elected officials that are involved, and if we find evidence, we will charge all of them,” said Verzosa.

The official is referring to Warlito Rodriquito who surrendered to Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, the provincial director of Pangasinan.

As to the politician allegedly squealed on by Rodriquito, Verzosa said: “He might be invited for questioning.”