Suspected robbers in Lapu collared

CEBU, Philippines - Two suspected robbers were arrested the other night along Maximo Patalinghug Street in Lapu-Lapu City few minutes after they victimized a tricycle driver and a lady passenger.

Now detained at the Lapu-Lapu Police Station are Paul Perletes, 18, and Armando Loreto, 25, all residents of barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City.

Both Perletes and Loreto were positively identified by the two victims.

PO3 Joseph Damaso, Theft and Robbery Section investigator, said that the suspects were seen along Patalinghug Street during a follow-up operation by police authorities. Both suspects were reportedly behind the robbery/hold-up in barangay Sangi of the said city.

“During sa scoring sa atong mga operatives diha sa Sangi wa na gyod makit-i ang mga suspects hangtod nga nipauli na lang ang mga biktima. Pero didto na sila nakit-an sa Maximo Patalinghug nga nag-istambay. Naklaro sa atong mga operatiba nga dunay armas ang usa mao to nga girikisa ug nakuhaan og revolver. Una, gidakop ang duha for illegal possession of firearms pero pag-abot dinhi sa police station positibo na silang giila sa mga biktima,” Damaso said.

The victims Ruben Curiba, 29, the tricycle driver, and Geralyn Rosaroso, 22, the passenger, positively identified the two suspects. The police authorities recovered the cellphone of Curiba from the possession of the suspects while the bag and other important documents of Rosaroso were recovered in one of the houses of the suspect in Pajo.

The money amounting to P300 was no longer recovered.

Both Perletes and Loreto admitted they were behind the robbery. They used a frontier revolver with three live bullets and a knife to intimidate the victims.

“Among giawhag ang uban pang mga biktima nga mopasaka’g kaso batok aning duha,” Damaso urged. — Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)