'Rob gang leader' killed in shootout

CEBU, Philippines - The alleged leader of the robbery gang believed to have taken the payroll of the M. Lhuillier dressing plant in Carmen last Friday was killed in a five-minute shootout with police operatives in barangay Baring of the northern town at dawn yesterday.

   Joshua Ybañez Paring, of barangay Corte, was killed in a hut in sitio Cansaguing when he tried to shoot it out with a team of police operatives, who were to implemented five search warrants against him and four other suspected cohorts.

Sr. Insp. Ricky Neron, who led the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 team, said they received reliable information that Paring and four others were involved in the robbery.

In order to make sure that they would cover all bases, the CIDG-7 team still went to court to seek a search warrant, which was granted by Judge Soliver Peras of RTC Branch 10.

Paring was hit on his right leg and the police suspect that he also had other injuries as he was declared dead on arrival at the Danao District Hospital.

Also taking part in the operation were personnel from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG), Regional Intelligence Division and Carmen Police. They conducted simultaneous raids in several barangays of the town.

Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, Director of Police Regional Office-7, said Paring was positively identified as one of the five men, who ran off with an estimated P300,000 cash intended for the salary of some 40 workers of the M. Lhuillier dressing plant in barangay Cantipay.

The police arrested Rolando Gonzales, Jr., 28 of barangay Cogon West and Jonidie Sanico of barangay Poblacion for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The police were able to confiscate a caliber .45 Armscor pistol from Paring, a caliber .45 Colt pistol from Gonzales, a caliber .357 HM revolver snub nose from Sanico and a caliber 30 M2 Carbine rifle, which was later surrendered by the relatives of the slain suspect.

Also recovered were a magazine for a KG-9 machine Pistol, 90 pieces of live ammunition of different calibers, two holsters for a caliber .45, a VHF radio, two mobile phones, P12,900 in bills and P1700 worth of coins.

Neron said they did not arrest the two other subjects of the warrants, identified as Ramil Tuay and Paring’s brother Joel, because there was no firearm recovered from their possession.

They however took into their custody Melvin Cencio, 30, of Cogon West and Jesus Morales, 45, of barangay Baring, who were in the area where they conducted the raid. Both of them will be questioned, Neron said.

Cencio and Morales, who both claimed to work as company guards of the chicken dressing plant, denied owning any gun and said that they only get to have guns when they are in the company premises, which Paring, their recently appointed head guard, would issue to them when they would be on duty.

Both, including Gonzales, also denied involvement in the robbery.

Nerez said that while they are still gathering additional evidence to prove that the others are involved in the robbery, they will file charges for illegal possession of firearms against Gonzales and Sanico.

Nerez said they will still gather witnesses that are willing to testify before the court against the suspects.

He considered the robbery case as solved, though, with the killing of Paring.

Nerez said they will also check allegations that Gonzales, who claimed to work as a messenger for 5th District Congressman Red Durano, is also involved in the killing of the Nito Taoy, who worked as chief security for Carmen Mayor Sonia Pua.

Gonzales also alleged that Paring, who was his friend, worked as bodyguard of the reelected congressman.

The PRO-7 Director added that Paring had a standing warrant of arrest for attempted murder and two cases of frustrated murder.

There have been derogatory reports also against the five subjects of the warrants. — Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)