9 Extremely Notorious Pinoy Gangsters
9. Emilio Changco
One of the most infamous Pinoy pirates of all time, Changco and his gang terrorized Philippine waters during the 1980s and the early 1990s. Using a hotel that overlooked Manila Bay as their base, Changco and his hencmen were often hired to seize commercial vessels to the tune of $300,000.
8. Marvin "Shyboy" Mercado
Marvin Mercado shown in a police photo in 1997.Photo Credits to Los Angeles Times
It's easy to see why Mercado got eight life sentences without parole in the US. As the leader of the Asian Boyz Gang he had founded in the 1970s. Mercadi who is Filipino-American had been found guilty of killing 8 people and attempting to kill another 10 in 1995 in Los Angeles a crime spree that authorities dubbed as the "Summber of Madness".
7.Octavio "Ongkoy" Parojinog Sr.
photo via www.myheritage.com
Although we'd usually remember the Kuratong Baleleng as the unfortunate gang on the reciving end of an alleged police rubout in 1997 in Quezon, some say it was a well deserved fate. After all that Kuratong Baleleng was said to be one of the most notorious gangs to have ever come out of Misamis Occidental.
Ironically, it was the military who organized the group in 1986 to counter NPA activity in the area. Led by the first leader Ongkoy Sr. the group was effective in stifling communist expansion in Western Mindanao although allegations were rife that Parojinog also used the group further his criminal activities such as robbery,kidnapping and extortion.
6. Grepor "Butch" Belgica
Although he may be known today as a born again pastor, Grepor "Butch" Belgica was at the one point one of the most infamous gangster of the 1960s and 70s.
A spoiled brat from a prominent family, Belgica earned his ticket to the big houeses at the age of 16 when he as convicted as an adult for the murder of another scion. He spent jail time in Muntinlupa and a penal colony in Palawan.
5. Alvin Flores
Other than being the leader of the ultra violent gang that bears his name little is known about Alvin Flores' background. While authorities say that Flores who died in October 2009 after a shootout with NBI agents in Cebu used to be a waiter with no military or police training a former comrade claimed that Flores once worked as a car thief for the communist hit sqaud Alex Boncayao Brigade in Malabon in the 1980s.
4. Ben "Tumbling" Garcia
via Flickr
Hailing from Malabon, Benjamin Garcia better known as Ben Tumbling due to his acrobatic skills as a former stuntman achieved notoriety in his hometown by engaging in drug dealing, robberies and carnapping. However it was his personal hand in deaths of seven policemen that made him espcially feared by autorities. It is said that Garcia hated the police for torturing him in his youth.
3. Marcial "Baby Ama" Perez
Don't let the innocuous sounding nickname fool you. Marcial "Baby Ama" Perez was regarded as one of the most notorious inmates to have ever graced the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.
Perez first ended up in jail after stealing money to help fund a friend's schooling. While inside the prison he had to endure ridicule and abuseto his boyish looks. Although he survived it at all.
2. Nicasio "Asiong" Salonga
Born and raised in the tough neighborhood of Tondo, Nicasio "Asiong" Salonga gradually developed two polarizing reputations. To those neighbors he was generous and amiable with he was known as Robin Hood. To his enemies and the rest of the country. However he became branded as Tondo's Public enemy no. 1 and the kingpin of Manila due to his involvement in several gang related violence and assortment of crimes.
1. Leonardo "Nardong Putik" Manecio
One of the most notorious gangster to ever come out of Cavite, Leonardo "Nardong Putik" Manecio's reckless exploits and ability to evade the law made him something of a folk hero to his town mates. It is said that he always carried an anting anting and would submerge himself in rice paddies to hide from his enemies or evade the authorities.