Man jailed for gun possession faces robbery, homicide raps

A man who is detained in the Lapu-Lapu City Jail for illegal possession of firearms was issued another arrest warrant for robbery with homicide. The warrant of arrest was issued by RTC Branch 7 judge Simeon Dumdum Jr. against Felixberto Aldemita, with aliases “Junjun” and “Mamerto”, from barangay Guadalupe, Carcar City.  He is allegedly the leader of a robbery group based in Carcar.

Aldemita was suspected behind the robbery and killing of livestock businessman Mariano Malinog last February 15.  Malinog’s wife Medarda was also injured during the robbery.

SPO1 Joel Pananganan said couple were on their way home in their multicab when men allegedly led by Aldemita hailed them in sitio Tan-awan, barangay Guadalupe.

Mariano did not stop and tried to ram his vehicle against the men who were on a motorcycle, prompting one of the men to shoot at the couple.

Mariano was killed by a shot to the head while Medarda was injured, the robbers made off with an estimated P100,000.

Included in the warrant of arrest were Aldemita’s alleged accomplices Raymund Navares Cabiles, and a certain “Roel”.  Cabiles surrendered a few weeks after the incident to PO2 Fredelson Codilla of Cebu City Police Office.

Sr. Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch of Cebu City Police Office served the warrant of arrest at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail yesterday.

Bastes told The Freeman said he presented Aldemita to Dumdum and the latter issued a commitment order for Aldemita to be detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in barangay Kalunasan in Cebu City.

But Aldemita was not accepted because the said facility is already full prompting Bastes to return Aldemita to Dumdum for instruction, Dumdum ordered Bastes to bring the suspect back to the Lapu-Lapu City Jail.

Aldemita was arrested in barangay Kalawisan, Lapu-Lapu City, last July in for illegal possession of firearms along with Edmund Punay, 23, of Taboc, Mandaue City; Alwin Bertoldo, 23, of Mantalungon, Barili town and Brando Babao.

The men were reported to be members of Aldemita’s robbery group and were reportedly planning a series of robberies in Metro Cebu particularly in Cebu City.

Police said they recovered from the group a sketch of the planned robberies.

Babao, who was able to post P40,000 bail before the sala of RTC Branch 53 judge Victor Teves last July 24, was shot dead by men on a motorcycle on his way back to Carcar City.

Investigators believe that the killing was perpetrated by his own companions who were afraid he would testify against them. — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP