Man with rob group "ties" arrested for attempted murder

CEBU, Philippines – A man with a case for attempted murder was arrested by police in a bank along Escario St., Barangay Kamputhaw, last Wednesday afternoon.

Arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for attempted murder was Erwin Antipuesto, a native of Barangay Demaluna, Ozamiz City, and temporarily staying in Barangay Casili, Consolacion town.

The warrant was issued by Judge Maria Penaco-Sitaca of the Regional Trial Court in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, last June 30, 2003.

Sr. Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, chief of the Fuente Police Station, said a police official in Oroquieta City coordinated with him after receiving information that the suspect is here in Cebu.

After being furnished with a copy of the warrant, Bastes coordinated with the Cebu Bankers Club to locate the suspect here. The police later learned that the suspect worked at a bank as a loan releaser.

He was arrested in the bank past noon Wednesday and detained at the Fuente Police Station detention cell.

The warrant stemmed from a complaint of a woman who was accidentally shot and injured by the suspect in October 2002.

"Naa siya'y gipusil na lalaki unya kadtong babaye ang naigo," Bastes said.

Yesterday the suspect was able to post bail which had been set at P120,000.

Police suspect he is a member of a robbery group from Mindanao.

Bastes said they received a tip that the said group is already here in Cebu and its targets are banks.

He said though that the suspect has no criminal record except for this attempted murder case.

The police official reminded banks to scrutinize their applicants' background by requiring them the necessary papers before hiring them. (FREEMAN)