Guard in rob-slay of store worker hurt while trying to flee from cops

An off-duty security guard who robbed then killed an attendant of a lechon store at Banilad Road, barangay Banilad Sunday evening, was injured in his escape from chasing policemen.

The suspect, 38-year-old Danilo Torrenueva, suffered head injuries when he jumped into a dried up creek as he tried to elude the policemen.

He was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center and is now out of danger but his robbery victim, 19-year-old Roel Absin, succumbed to gunshot wounds in the body and was declared dead on arrival at the Don Vicente Gullas Hospital.

Torrenueva, a resident of barangay Bug-ot in Argao, was employed with the Assault Security Agency and Allied Services Inc., while his victim, Absin, was a native of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental and an stay-in worker of Riza’s Lechon Manok and Baboy in Banilad.

Absin was manning the store with co-worker Benjie Bitoohan, 18, of Talibon, Bohol when Torrenueva arrived and allegedly declared a hold up and shot Absin.

Homicide investigator SPO 1 Jay Yballe said Torrenueva went to the store and ordered a roasted chicken and hanging rice (puso). It happened that the store was short of puso at the time, so Bitoohan went to the other store a few meters away to get some. On his way back to the store, he saw Absin already clutching his chest and bloodied.

The victim reportedly told him “Gitulis ko Jie, gipusil ko anang tawhana,” while pointing his fingers to Torrenueva who by then was already running away from the scene.

Bitoohan tried to chase and block Torrenueva but the suspect pointed his gun at Bitoohan who in turn backed off for cover and to ask for help. The suspect crossed the road and run towards Mahiga Bridge.

Responding policemen of the Mobile Patrol Group, led by PO1 Alfredo Casas, spotted the suspect somewhere at St. Michael Village in Banilad but when they approached him, he quickly fled and jumped off an already dried creek. He however hit the rocks with his head first.

The injured suspect was rushed to CCMC while the police recovered from his possession a .38 caliber revolver with one empty shell and three live bullets, and P1, 650 cash believed to be the money stolen from the store. Storeowner Rodesa Rosales claimed she lost an estimated P2,000 from the robbery.

Homicide Section chief, Mario Monilar, told The Freeman that robbery with homicide charges will be filed against Torrenueva. He said the suspect refused to answer to the police questioning.

 There were reports that the suspect was a heavy gambler and the lack of money to feed his cravings for gambling might have drove him to rob the store, said Monilar. — Edwin Ian Melecio/RAE