Three persons were arrested in a police checkpoint after they allegedly carted away some P100,000 worth of cash and valuables from a customer of a café at the Asiatown IT Park early morning yesterday.
The three - Randy Flores, 32, of Sta. Cruz, Giatog, Digos, Davao del Sur; Richard Villafuerte, 32, of San Jose, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte; and Allan Gomez, 31, also of Davao - were able to flee from the security guards at the IT Park but later landed in the hands of the elements of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau who were conducting a checkpoint along Salinas Drive.
CIIB chief George Ylanan yesterday presented the three suspects to the media. The suspects alleged that they only arrived in Cebu last Sunday and all of them are temporarily residing along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.
Police said the fourth suspect, a certain Bryan Balbuena, who is believed to be the local contact of the three, remains at large.
The police were not able to recover the stolen items because they were allegedly with Balbuena.
Ylanan said they learned during investigation that the suspects preyed on the wife of a foreigner who was a customer of a café at the IT Park and were able to take away a Manel bag worth P1,500; cash amounting to P30,600; US $600; a Lacoste wallet; gold medallion pendant; gold earrings and a D600 Samsung cellular phone.
The victim, who noticed her bag had gone missing, immediately alarmed the security guards and asked them to chase the suspects.
The security guards chased the suspects out from the IT park vicinity into the checkpoint conducted by the CIIB personnel.
Security guards Rolly Amongos, Joel Boctot and Gardson Antipala, all of Cherubin Security Agency became instrumental for the arrest of the three suspects.
Police said the group has already conducted several thefts in Cebu City with the help of a local cohort.
Ylanan called on the other victims of the “Mindanao boys” to step forward for the filing of proper charges. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB