Cops arrest one of three suspects of dawn rob-slay

CEBU, Philippines - Case solved.

The police arrested one of three suspects in the robbery incident that left one person dead and his brother injured the other day at corner Arlington Pond and Lim Tian Teng Sts. in barangay Santa Cruz.

The police said that they arrested the suspect at B. Rodriguez St., barangay Sambag II and have considered the case as solved.

The suspect was identified as Godofredo Pardillo, 19, who was picked-up by operatives of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office past 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Pardillo was later identified by Herbert Cursiga, who was hit on his right thigh when the gun went off as he and his elder brother Vedasto tried to fight it out with the robbers.

Vedasto, who was hit on the chest died in the incident.CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador said they will still not stop until they arrest the two other suspects.

Pardillo first denied any involvement in the robbery, but later identified the gunmen as Fritz and Bodok.

Police found out that he was referring to Fritz Alferez and Bodok Antonio, who are also residents of barangay Sambag II.

Herbert said that it was Pardillo, who searched their pockets and took their valuables.

Vedasto worked as a cook in a Korean while Herbert worked as a waiter in the same establishment.

They were walking on their way home to Junquera St. after eating barbecue at Fuente Osmeña at around 4 a.m. when they were robbed.

The gun used was a .22 caliber magnum revolver.

Pardillo said that he hails from Toledo City where he used to work as gardener. He said that he has been in Cebu City for less than a week and is staying with a sister.

The police picked him up while he was on his way to buy dinner.

He alleged that he, Fritz and Bodok came from a disco, spotted the two victims and decided to pull a robbery.

Pardillo, in an interview with reporters, denied that he was the one who searched the victims' pockets and alleged that he was few meters away from the two when they pulled off the hold-up.

When they reached Sambag 2, he allegedly heard Fritz asked Bodok about the contents of the wallet they stole from the victims.

When Bodok replied that it contained P100, Fritz then told him to use the money to buy beer.

The two then allegedly drank the beer while he went to his sister's house.

 Pardillo strongly denied involvement in the incident and other crimes, but said that his companions were notorious thieves. — Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)