After Torres, cops target 2 more notorious robbers

Now that suspected robber and the region's most wanted personality Ruel Rey Bernes Torres has been arrested, police authorities are now moving on to their next targets: Danny Limotan and Junard Saladaga.

Torres had claimed that Limotan and Saladaga, two other notorious robbers, were behind the recent series of robberies in Metro Cebu.

Right after his arrival in Cebu following his arrest in Monte Alegre, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, Torres claimed that after he and Ruel Villanueva Rodriguez posted bail last October, he never returned to Cebu.

The two were arrested on September 15, 2004 after they allegedly robbed an employee of Lim Block Incorporated employee at the North Reclamation Area.

Torres said that after their arrest, he and Limotan had a falling out because the latter stole his .45 cal pistol, adding that Limotan and Saladaga grouped together.

He said this was the reason why his name was always dragged in the spate of robberies that were carried out by Limotan's group.

Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch chief Paul Labra told The Freeman yesterday that they would seriously go after Limotan and Saladaga because it is possible that the two would strike again now that Torres has been arrested.

Meanwhile, city police director Melvin Gayotin yesterday said he would not disband the task force that arrested Torres so it could concentrate on operating against high-profile robbers like Saladaga and Limotan.

Limotan used to be the co-leader of the Torres group, whose driver was Saladaga. Other members of the group, based on Torres' revelation during a tactical interrogation last year, are Nardo Abapo, Benny Tubigon, Lademir Gamanay, and Tito Jayme. Abapo, whose address is Agus-Ibabao, Lapu-Lapu City, and Limotan, who hails from Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, were charged for the robbery of Ace Investments last December. Limotan also has a standing warrant for robbery issued by RTC judge Ulrich Cañete last July 15 2003.

Saladaga, along with Torres, was charged with robbery with frustrated homicide before the City Prosecutor's Office for allegedly robbing Santiago Olivar, liaison officer of Wam Manufacturing, of P780,000 cash in Banilad last January 4.

He is a native of barangay Eastern Bubongan in Ramon Magsaysay, Zambonga del Sur.

Meanwhile, fashion designer Jed Sevilla said the arrest of Torres was a gift from the Mother of Perpetual Help, whose feast is celebrated today.

Sevilla cheated death despite sustaining four gunshot wounds during a robbery along V. Rama Street on December 18, 2005.

A Marian devotee, Sevilla, who visited Torres at the Cebu City Medical Center yesterday afternoon, confirmed that Torres was the one who robbed and nearly killed him.

"It (the robbery) ruined my life. My business was turned upside down. I hit the bottom explaining to my clients that it was really an incident. It was a miracle.. imagine four gunshot wounds. Imo na lang untang gikuha ang tanan wala na lang ko nimo hilabti because I am the breadwinner of the family. I spent nine days in the hospital. Until now akong tiil naapay numbness," Sevilla told Torres.

Before leaving the room, Sevilla requested Labra and the rest of the guards to pose with him for a picture as a sign of gratitude.

"What I learned after the incident is that you live life moment by moment. Kini dili na ni mausab," Sevilla said.