Rob suspect shot by cohort, faces charges

CEBU – What could have been a successful attempt at robbery led a suspect to the hospital and subsequently to jail.

Remart Conahap, 19, and his alleged cohort, a certain Lyle Paras, boarded a Mandaue-bound 21 D jeepney around 8 p.m. Friday when they chanced upon the lone passenger, Renant Diez, 28, at the corner of General Maxilom and M.J. Cuenco Avenues.

In a statement to the police, Diez said both suspects pointed guns at him and demanded for his cell phone. When he refused, one of the suspects reportedly struck him on the face with the firearm.

A scuffle then ensued when Diez grappled with Paras for the firearm, prompting the suspect to fire his gun. The bullet, however, missed Diez and instead hit Conahap on the latter’s upper left arm.

Both suspects were able to flee at that time but authorities caught up with Conahap in Naga town just before midnight when a doctor at the South General Hospital reported a “suspicious person” to the Naga police.

Conahap went to South General Hospital presumably to have his wound tended to.

Conahap, a resident of barangay Carreta, Cebu City, then voluntarily surrendered his .38 “paltik” revolver to the police. The firearm still had five live rounds of ammunition and an empty shell inside the cylinder.

It was also after his arrest that Conahap pointed to Paras as his cohort. Paras, also a resident of barangay Carreta, remains at large.

Conahap is now detained at the Cebu City Police Office while appropriate charges are being prepared against him. - Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)