Gayotin orders massive manhunt vs rob suspects

City police director Melvin Gayotin ordered a massive manhunt against suspected robbers Jemuel Cardoza, alias Roldan Villanueva Rodriguez, and Doroteo Imperial who were positively identified as the ones who carted away P200,000 from a moneychanger in barangay Mabolo on Friday.

"Nip them in the bud," this was how Gayotin ordered Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch chief Paul Labra in a meeting Friday afternoon.

Labra told The Freeman yesterday afternoon that although no task force was formed to hunt down Cardoza and Imperial, Gayotin wants the authorities to prioritize the capture of Imperial and Cardoza.

He said Cardoza has at least three arrest warrants, one of which was in connection to a robbery with homicide case, a non-bailable offense. But Labra said they are yet to secure an arrest warrant against Imperial, who failed to attend the hearing of a robbery case filed against him by at least 50 Indian businessmen.

He said at least three witnesses have positively identified Cardoza and Imperial from the rogues' gallery as those who robbed Jessie Hernane in barangay Mabolo Friday morning.

Hernane was ordered by his employer to bring the money to her house in Mandaue City. But when Hernane was about to leave the establishment, two men suddenly appeared, blocked his way, pulled out .45 cal pistols and demanded for the money.

According to Labra, aside from Cardoza and Imperial, an unidentified man who acted as the driver during the robbery has been suspected to be Junard Saladaga, another notorious personality in the city.

Cardoza, based on intelligence reports, was originally part of the Rey Torres-Danny Limotan robbery group. But when the two leaders had a falling out, Cardoza went with Torres. - Ryan P. Borinaga