Police confirms merger of notorious rob groups

Police finally confirmed their earlier suspicions that the sub-groups formed by Ruel Torres and Danny Limotan have now merged under the leadership of Jemuel Cardoza alias Roldan Villanueva.

One of the members of this group was also arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch in barangay Gibuangan, Barili town, yesterday afternoon.

Three employees of the Cebu People's Development Cooperative pointed to Cardoza as the one who led the robbery of their establishment along Junquera Street last Oct. 6.

CIIB chief Paul Labra said yesterday morning that aside from Cardoza, a cashier from the said establishment identified a new personality by the name of Richard Hermosilla.

Also yesterday Labra finally identified the one who was with Cardoza during the Western Union money transfer robbery last October.

His name is Junard Pabriga, who, according to Labra, is also a member of the subgroup founded by Limotan before and was the one who accidentally fired during the incident.

CEPEDECO security guard Junnie Salvador said at past 4 p.m. last Oct. 6 he opened the door to let an employee out and a robber immediately rushed in and pointed a gun at him, took his .38 cal. revolver and then pushed him to the floor.

Two other robbers hurried inside, one of them tried to prevent CEPEDECO provincial operations head Mario Baylosis from locking the door to the conference room. They struggled and the robber's gun went off, hitting the robber in the right leg.

While this was happening the other robber was already emptying the drawers and vaults. The robbers later escaped on a motorcycle with about P80,000 in cash and valuables.

Meanwhile, a CIIB team led by Labra arrested Randel Peralta, 30, said to be the planner of the Torres robbery group, in barangay Gibuangan, Barili town, yesterday afternoon.

It was Peralta who looked for targets for the group to victimize, according to intelligence reports.

Peralta was allegedly with others who scampered away upon seeing policemen approach their house. He was the only one collared by police.

The police also seized shabu paraphernalia from Peralta, said to be a neighbor of Torres in Zamboanga del Sur. - Ryan P. Borinaga