Suspects in bakeshop robbery face charges

CEBU, Philippines - A robbery case will be filed at the Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office today against those who allegedly robbed a branch of Julie’s Bakeshop in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City last Thursday.

Aside from the robbery case, the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office is also set to file tomorrow charges for illegal possession of firearm against Lauro Chatto, 41, of Barangay Buaya, Lapu-Lapu City while a case for illegal possession of illegal drugs will be filed against Alvin Ceniza, 33, a native of Zamboanga del Sur and temporarily residing in Barangay Opao.

One of the three suspects, Alfredo Alfajora, of Zamboanga del Sur remains at large. He is believed to be among the cohorts of members of a robbery group nabbed by the operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch two weeks ago.

Inspector Wilson Abot, chief of the Opao Police Station, said they actually arrested Chatto at his residence a few hours after the robbery at around 2pm. Confiscated from him was a .38 revolver loaded with four bullets.

The cashier of the bakeshop also identified him positively as the one who poked her with the seized firearm and took the P935 proceeds of the store.

During interrogation, Chatto disclosed the whereabouts of his cohorts, which helped the police stage an operation at 6pm on the same day at the house of a certain Peping in Barangay Saac.

The suspects, who noticed the presence of the police, scampered towards different directions but Ceniza was collared and two packets of shabu were recovered from his possession.

Police also recovered the Legend motorcycle bearing 1819GT that was reportedly used as a getaway vehicle during the robbery.

Abot said even Ceniza’s wife had confessed that several men from Mindanao were coming in and out of their house.

“Daghan pa gani kuno ug cellphone nga lain-lain lang unya kasagaran puro gyud taga Mindanao,” Abot said.

Police are urging victims of robbery to go to their office to identify the suspects so that appropriate charges can be filed against them. — (FREEMAN)