The Philippine National Police (PNP) has virtually declared a war against a notorious robbery gang responsible for the broad daylight Greenbelt 5 robbery in Makati City over the weekend and other series of daring heist in Metro Manila by recommending a P500,000 bounty for the neutralization of its leader.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, PNP chief, said they have already forwarded the recommendation of giving reward for the capture of Alvin Flores in the Department of the Interior and Local Government-PNP reward system for most wanted persons.

“I have also directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to launch special operations to assist NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) in manhunt operations for Alvin Flores and his group,” said Verzosa.

The PNP leadership has a score to settle against Flores and his group since the gang has been using police uniforms, particularly the black uniform of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the Bomb Squad Unit, in their capers.

The Alvin Flores Gang was also tagged as responsible for daring armed robberies, the most recent of which were the robberies at Waltermart supermarket in Quezon City and at Greenbelt 5 Mall in Makati City.

The successful heist by the group, including the robbery of two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and warehouse robberies in several parts in Metro Manila, prompted the PNP leadership to ban the use of the black SWAT and Bomb Squad uniforms.

In response to Verzosa’s order, the CIDG has started to mobilize its intelligence network in the communities and review its database of criminal personalities to locate Alvin Flores, said Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman.

“The CIDG operatives are now checking hospitals and medical clinics in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon to possibly trace a member of the Alvin Flores Group who was believed to be wounded in the Greenbelt 5 robbery,” said Espina.

In the Greenbelt heist, two police escorts of Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tiñga shot dead one of the robbers and injured another one. The slain robber was traced to be a resident of Isabela province.

“They (CIDG investigators) are also reviewing video footages taken by CCTV monitors inside Greenbelt 5 and those taken in previous robbery incidents perpetrated by the Alvin Flores Group,” the official said.

Aside from the monetary reward, police officials are now preparing the inclusion of the pictures of Flores and his identified cohorts in the PNP wanted posters which will be distributed across the country.