Man dies in heist; four suspects fall

CEBU, Philippines - A worker died after he was shot by a group of gang members who robbed a passenger jeepney along Cebu Business Park in Barangay Luz last Wednesday night.

One of the suspects, who are members of the notorious Bloods gang, was arrested by Mayor Mike Rama’s police escort who happened to be passing the area. His arrest led to the arrest of the three other suspects.

Police identified the fatality as Roidito Roque Cañete Cabilao, 42, married, a contractor of Gala Industries and a resident of Countryville Subdivision in Canduman, Mandaue City.

Arrested were Joel Alutaya, 24; Jeward Sumalinog, 20; Jeffrey Frasco, 27; all residents of Barangay Carreta; and the 16-year-old gunman, a resident of sitio San Roque, Barangay Luz.

PUJ driver Antonio Samson, 49, told the police that they were traveling towards Barangay Talamban when the suspects boarded the jeepney at the vicinity of the Chinese Cemetery along M.J. Cuenco Avenue.

When they reached Mindanao Avenue beside a bank at Ayala Business Park, the suspects pulled out guns and knives and declared a hold-up.

The 16 passengers, including the victim, were quick to escape through the windows, but a bullet hit Cabilao on the right chest. A taxi driver rushed Cabilao to the Perpetual Succour Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

Samson said when he noticed that the jeepney was already empty, he immediately drove to Barangay Talamban and sought police help. The Theft and Robbery Section is now looking into the incident.

Police Officer 1 Euller Matt Morelos, Rama’s police escort, arrested Alutaya just in time. A seven-inch knife was seized from his possession.

Emmanuel Montalbon, 34, a protective agent connected with Evertrust Security Agency, said he was sitting in front of a Toyota Hi-Ace van with Rama and Rene Mercado, the mayor’s “prime mover” when they witnessed a commotion nearby.

Montalbon, in his affidavit, said he saw the passengers frantically disembarking from a jeepney and running to different directions. He then saw a person, wearing a black T-shirt, shoot the victim.

He informed Rama of what he saw and the mayor immediately ordered him to arrest the gunman. Montalbon said he chased the suspect, but the latter ran into the dark.

Morelos, who was in convoy with the Hi-Ace van, went out of his vehicle and responded to the scene, thus, the arrest of Alutaya.

Sumalinog later went to TRS that same evening to surrender.

City Police Director Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said Sumalinog will possibly serve as a state witness.

Frasco and the minor were arrested yesterday morning during a hot pursuit operation conducted by the TRS and Investigation and Detective Management Branch in Barangay Hipodromo.

Buenafe said the suspects admitted staging the robbery.Buenafe said it appeared that the group, who might have been involved in previous robbery cases, carried out the incident just for “tripping.” Buenafe said the gunman is a repeat offender and has been implicated in previous robbery incidents.

The gunman alleged that Cabilao bumped him while trying escape. This reportedly irked him and prompted him to shoot Cabilao.

Buenafe said the suspects apparently have knowledge of the existing Juvenile Law that does not punish minors who commit infractions.

“Aware sila. Sa kadaghan nila, siya gyud ang ga-gunit sa pusil kay siya man ang minor,” the CCPO Director said, adding that they will establish that the gunman acted with discernment when he shot the victim.

Buenafe called on the other victims to come out into the open and identify the suspects so that proper charges can be filed against him. (FREEMAN)