Precautionary measures set: Cops confirm presence of Mindanao rob group

Authorities yesterday confirmed that a robbery gang from Mindanao has arrived recently in Cebu, prompting them to set up a meeting this week with the Cebu Bankers Association for precautionary measures.

Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau chief Paul Labra II said intelligence agents have sighted Roy Quimada-a suspected leader of a Mindanao robbery group-in Talisay City and Bogo town, and Quimada's alleged members in Mandaue City recently.

Labra said this group is from Ozamiz City, and intelligence updates showed that it might stage bank robberies between now and December.

Cebu City Police director Melvin Gayotin and Provincial Police director Vicente Loot, after learning of the report, last Tuesday ordered their respective forces to be on full alert and coordinate with security personnel of business establishments in various cities and towns in Cebu.

Loot yesterday said the provincial police is now conducting preemptive operations against this Mindanao robbery group. "We will hit hard on them, we want them (criminals) out in Cebu by December before the ASEAN Summit," he said.

Loot had directed Supt. Juanito Enguerra, Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch chief, to lead the operations and arrest those suspected robbers who have warrants of arrest. He also advised security guards of businesses to be on full alert against the group.

These robbers usually operate in Metro Cebu, and Loot said they must be "cleaned up" along with snatchers, thieves and other organized or non-organized crime groups by December.

Gayotin, for his part, said the City Police have started tightening security measures in business establishments in the city, and he already alerted the bankers' group, moneychangers and other businesses to do their share and make sure they have working alarm systems.

Labra added that a warning was already issued to banks, pawnshops and moneychangers not to be slack in security. He said that he would meet with the bankers' association this week to set up enhanced measures against possible strike of these robbers.

Roy Quimada has been listed as the alleged plotter of previous robberies in Cebu, which was led by robbery suspects Danny Limotan and Rey Torres. He allegedly led also the robbery of Aspac bank in Tabogon town last November after the arrest of Limotan and Torres in Mindanao last year.

Quimada was later arrested, along with his nephew Earl Allen Mondarte, in San Remegio town minutes after the P380,000 Aspac bank robbery. The two were, however, able to post bail days after their arrest.

Quimada, an accounting graduate of a University in Cebu City, previously worked at Far East Bank in Pagadian City but resigned as accounting officer after he was charged with estafa for alleged forgery of the signatures of depositors and fleeing with close to P2 million cash. --Flor Z. Perolina and Norvie S. Misa/RAE