Raps filed against man who robbed resto-grill

CEBU - Criminal charges were filed in court yesterday against a man accused of robbing two employees of a resto-grill in barangay Mabolo then holding an old woman hostage in an attempt to escape from pursuing policemen.

The Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office, upon the recommendation of assistant city prosecutor Edgardo Montenegro, indicted Gary Namanas of robbery and illegal possession of firearms. His accomplice in the crime, a certain Anecito Santander, is still at large.

The prosecutors’ office has set his bail at P220,000 for the two charges, which is way higher compared to the P69,000 he robbed from the couple Roger and Gelen Comaling.

Namanas was arrested by two off-duty policemen who were about to take their dinner at the Neo-Neo Grill in Mabolo on the evening of September 6 when they chanced upon the accused together with Santander robbing the two employees.

PO3 Jonas Tahanlangit ang PO2 Jerybel Lerio said that they just came from conducting a checkpoint and decided to take their dinner at the grill when they noticed a commotion. The two policemen said that they saw people running and then heard a gunshot prompting them to verify.

Witnesses told them that there was an ongoing robbery and that the suspect was being chased by bystanders. The policemen pursued the fleeing suspect who was armed with a .45 cal. pistol, but when they cornered him the suspect grabbed an old woman and held her hostage.

Namanas later surrendered after several patrol cars with Special Weapons and Tactics personnel arrived and surrounded him with their long firearms. Santander was able to escape after getting on a taxicab and leaving him behind.

A former security guard of the grill, Rey Adlawan, said last August 25 he mentioned to Santander that the restaurant’s earnings are brought outside by two employees using a motorcycle every night.

 Adlawan also said he did not expect that Santander would plan to rob the grill. — Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)