Cops to get prize, but. Bigger reward up for dead suspects

CEBU, Philippines - Policemen who foiled the P6.2 million jewelry heist last Tuesday afternoon are getting a reward, but not as much as they would have gotten if the suspects were killed in a shoot out.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that he will definitely give rewards to those responsible for arresting four suspects in the heist where a jewelry dealer was victimized.

“They will have a reward, the reward will be much bigger if they were killed, of course it is still big,” Osmeña said.

The mayor said that he appreciates the performance of the police as it is important in the campaign against the ills of society.

The suspects are reportedly members of a robbery group allegedly involved in several high-profile heists in Cebu City.

While no figures were mentioned yet the policemen who have been responsible in foiling crimes have received rewards ranging from P10,000 to P20,000 for every arrest and P50,000 if the suspect is killed.

“I remind the police that I will make the prize bigger if they’re (suspects) killed as long as it’s in the line of duty,” he said.

Osmeña said that one of the lessons to be learned here is that a peron or group is usually involved in several crimes.

“Just get one culprit and the crime goes down,” Osmeña said.

One of the three suspects arrested last Tuesday, Frederick Ybañez of Ozamis City confessed that he is a member of the group of Roy Quimada that has been tagged responsible for several celebrated cases.

Ybañez was arrested with Noel Davis of Davao City, Jeromy Polistico of Misamis and Kirby Abanilla of Pasil, Cebu City.

The mayor has openly expressed support to vigilantism and in fact his statement once sparked a series of vigilante-style killings in the city.

The series of vigilante–style killings started in December 22, 2004 and the victims were known to have criminal records.

At least 176 people have been killed vigilante style, mostly by men on motorcycles, armed with .45 caliber pistols.

The Commission on Human Rights said the unsolved summary executions in the country might affect the membership of the Philippines in the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Cebu City Council Committee on Peace and Order chairman Augustus Pe for his part said the award will be determined after CCPO will submit an evaluation.

The robbery was foiled by members of the Punta Princesa Police Station under Sr. Insp. Gilberto Abellar with the help of tanods from barangay Punta Princesa.

The victim, Jennifer de la Cerna, just came out of a fast food outlet at corner F. Lllamas St. and N. Bacalso Ave. when a man pointed a gun at her and demanded for her bag.

The robbers fled on board a black Mitsubishi Adventure and headed towards Punta Princesa. A man on board a motorcycle notified the police, who gave chase and caught up with the suspects at a traffic jam at Tres de Abril St. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)