Botched Davao Pawnshop heist exposes ‘Martilyo Gang’ links; Police close in on suspects

DAVAO CITY – The Ilustre Pawnshop heist, now considered one of the biggest robberies in Mindanao—was executed with military-like precision in just 1 minute and 40 seconds, according to sworn affidavits of the pawnshop employees.

Investigators are now probing links to the notorious “Martilyo Gang”, a group known for swift, well-coordinated smash-and-grab robberies.

The February 26 robbery left authorities baffled at the level of synchronization displayed by the criminals. Employees recounted how security guards were disarmed instantly, followed by a rapid operation to shatter glass cabinets and grab high-value jewelry before making a rushed escape.

“It was quick and precise. They moved in sync—from overpowering the guards to smashing the display cases. They knew exactly what to do, the crime lasted for about one minute and 50 seconds,” three panwhop employees stated in their affidavits.

Authorities are closing in on the suspects behind the Ilustre Pawnshop heist, now considered the biggest robbery in Mindanao, as investigators probe possible ties to the notorious “Martilyo Gang”, which has been operating across the region.

On Thursday, the police charged in court the arrested suspect, Johny Dejito Bulawan, who is facing cases for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Comelec gun ban), robbery, and the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.

In 2018, Bulawan was charged for illegal drugs in court and the caseis pending in Manila court.

Davao City Police Director Col. Hansel Marantan, who led Task Force Limbas in dismantling the Martilyo/Waray-Waray Gang in 2005, noted striking similarities between the February 26 pawnshop robbery and past heists, including the ₱50-million jewelry robbery at Gaisano Capital Mall in Ozamiz City on January 1, 2024.

“If we look at their methods, the signature is the same. But here in Davao, they used a ‘maso’ (sledgehammer) to break into the pawnshop partitions,” Marantan told Newsline.

Links to Ozamiz City Jewelry Heist

Authorities are investigating possible connections between the Davao and Ozamiz robberies, citing similarities in strategic planning, local contacts, and extensive casing of the establishments before the crimes.

In the Ozamiz heist, robbers tunneled through a drainage system to gain access to Gaisano Capital Mall, looting two jewelry shops and stealing an estimated ₱50 million in cash and valuables, including money from an ATM.

The Ozamiz jewelry heist in January 1, 2024. Five suspects and a minor are facing charges in court. -Newsline Photo

Given both incidents’ timeliness and geographic proximity, police suspect an interconnected network of criminal groups—possibly linked to the “Termite Gang” in Ozamiz and the “Martilyo Gang” in Davao—is behind these high-profile robberies.

Tracing the Suspects’ Movement in Davao

Investigators believe the Davao robbers had been in the city since early January, working with three local contacts.

• February 24 – Suspects John and Rodolfo left Albuera, Leyte, stopping in Butuan City to meet Jack before proceeding to Davao City.
• February 25 (5:00 AM) – They arrived in Davao. They were picked up by a gray Toyota Innova (plate number withheld) driven by Jetro, a native of Gingoog, who was with Alias “Tirso”, a native of Northern Mindanao.
• They checked into a local lodge, booking four rooms, where they met Jamela and finalized the robbery plan
• Shabu Session Before the Robbery
• January 26 (Early Morning) – The group held a pot session in their lodge before one of the suspects secured firearms for the heist.
• 9:00 AM – The five suspects, aboard the gray Toyota Innova, set out for Ilustre Street.
• Alias Jayden, Alias Manolo, Alias Jeremiah, and Reden were inside the Innova.
• Alias John rode a Honda TMX, while another suspect, riding a Yamaha Mio, followed behind.

Botched Escape: Flaws in Execution

Despite careful planning, the robbery did not unfold as expected due to a critical miscalculation—the Honda TMX motorcycle ran out of gasoline, forcing the suspects to abandon it, disrupting their getaway.
Additionally, the group’s local contact in Davao failed to provide a secure exit route.

A former Davao City station commander, familiar with past robbery cases, analyzed the botched heist:
“Based on the video circulating, this was not a staged robbery. It was poorly planned, and they underestimated the police. But they clearly had local contacts. Their escape vehicles were poorly prepared, leading to their failure.”

The same former police official noted the difficult mixture of people in Bankerohan, where one suspect was arrested. “They didn’t realize where they were running. Bankerohan is the lair of the city’s force multipliers. ‘Maglisod jud sila didto kay solid man to, wala sila kabantay nga kampo to sa mga iro’ (They would have a hard time there because that area is solid; they didn’t realize it was a dog camp).”

Ongoing Manhunt for the Suspects

Marantan confirmed that Davao-based suspects are now under close surveillance. Authorities are also coordinating with the families of the identified suspects in their respective provinces to pressure them into surrendering.

Martilyo Gang Resurgence?

The Martilyo Gang, notorious for smash-and-grab pawnshop heists, has long been a priority target for law enforcement.

The 2005 operation led by Marantan resulted in the deaths of 17 gang members in Parañaque, significantly weakening their operations. However, their modus operandi appears to have resurfaced, indicating they now operate in Mindanao.

Coordinated Crackdown Across Mindanao

Davao police are working with Northern Mindanao law enforcement units to track down suspects and determine whether the Ozamiz and Davao heists were connected efforts by a single crime network.

With the Ozamiz case still under investigation and the Davao suspects under tight surveillance, authorities remain confident that arrests will be made soon, preventing further large-scale robberies in the region.

Marantan, a decorated intelligence officer in the PNP who was sent to Russia and exposed to the Federal Security Service (FSB), formerly known as the KGB in Russia, for further study and immersion at the National Intelligence Service in South Korea, among other places, personally handles the investigation and operations in the continuing investigation of the Ilustre robbery.

On Friday night, when asked about the latest update on the case, Marantan said in an interview, “I cannot tell, but Davaoeños deserve to know later. They can interpret the incident based on their prejudged opinion, but I only say that this is a police operation.”

When asked about the claim that it was a staged robbery, Marantan smirked, “They can think based on the fertility of their imagination; I am doing my work.”