2 robbery suspects arrested by police

CEBU ­– Two men who pretended as robbery victims ended up inside the detention cell after police discovered that they were the ones who robbed and injured a tricycle passenger in barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City early morning yesterday.

John Aleres Betonio, 25, and Christopher Mangubat, 27, both residents of barangay Sangi, Lapu-Lapu City, were positively identified by their victim, Renante Tumulak, at the emergency room of Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital where the latter was brought for treatment.

Tumulak sustained a gunshot wound to his body and suffered bruises in his face when the two suspects threw him out of the tricycle after taking his cell phone and P300 cash.

“Nakasiguro ko Sir nga napagan to ang usa sa nanulis pagsakay balik sa tricycle,” the victim said during an interview.

Betonio and Mangubat earlier told Mandaue City police that they were victims of robbery incident along A.C. Cortes, in Mandaue City at 3 a.m.

Because of the alleged robbery, Betonio was accidentally shot in the left foot that resulted to his confinement at Mandaue City District Hospital.

The doctor also advised him to seek further treatment at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

However, ABS-CBN TV Patrol-Central Visayas news crew suspected the two were behind the robbery alarm in Babag, Lapu-Lapu City that prompted them to contact the Lapu-Lapu City Police.

Elements of Mandaue City police and Lapu-Lapu City police immediately went back to A.C. Cortes in Mandaue City to check if there are blood stains and witnesses in the area that could attest to their statement.

When the follow-up investigation turned out negative, Mandaue City police together with PO1 Philip Simaro, homicide investigator of Lapu-Lapu City police, decided to bring the two suspects to Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital.

Right there at the hospital’s emergency room, Tumulak positively identified the two suspects as the one who robbed and wounded him.

“Gikan mi buwangan sa Mandaue kay nanari unya kami man ang gitulis. Nganong kami na hinoon ang pasanginlan?” Betonio said, denying the accusations against them. — Ramil V. Ayuman/WAB (THE FREEMAN)