Rob gang leader dies as 2 rob suspects post bail

CEBU, Philippines - James Harold Barbero, the leader of a robbery group whose members were arrested, died yesterday morning at the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Physicians had performed an operation Tuesday night on Barbero, who lost much blood after a major artery in his leg was hit by a bullet and was cut.

One of the surgeons who refused to be named told The FREEMAN that they finished the operation at exactly 9:00 in the evening on Tuesday. They had difficulty finding blood for his transfusion. His blood type was AB.

“Ever since nihit kaayo ni nga type sa dugo and in fact there is no blood available sa blood bank so type O among gibutang,” he said. The surgeon added they were expecting Barbero could survive because his vital signs were normal right after the operation.

“Gisuwayan siya og revive but wala na mada gitawagan na ko nga wa na akong pasyente,” the surgeon said. (They tried but failed to revive him. I got a call that we lost the patient.)

Barbero was shot by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch in an encounter to neutralize him as he was armed with a .45 caliber pistol and a hand grenade.

Barbero was held responsible for the shooting of Juan Carlos Villordon, who tried to defend his girlfriend Aimee Sembrando in Barangay Kasambagan last Sunday. He was positively identified by Sembrando.

Barbero’s name surfaced after the arrest of James Harold Barbero, Ramil Batican, Ronald Dindin and Marlon Hermoso, all of Danao City, and Justil Flores of Barangay Pasil, Cebu City. Their arrest also came after the apprehension of Marlon Andrino, 34, of Barangay Magay, Compostela town, who is facing charges for several counts of robbery and carnapping. Andrino was caught last January 12 by the Mandaue City police after victimizing a certain Shiela May Antolihao. Andrino was collared in the follow-up operation but his accomplice, Junie Caraat, was shot by the police in the head in a shootout during the chase.

The group was blamed for several highway robberies and carnappings in Metro Cebu areas.

Meanwhile, two men accused for illegal possession of firearms and possession of illegal drugs posted bail yesterday.

Prosecutor Ernesto Narido Jr. elevated to the court the cases against Edward Teves, 28 of Santa Ana St., San Vicente Village, Mandaue City and Michael Reyes, 29 of Barangay Luz, Cebu City.

Narido recommended a bail of P80,000 for illegal possession of firearms; P200,000 for illegal possession of drugs and P40,000 for illegal possession of drugs paraphernalia.

Reyes posted a surety bond while Teves posted cash bond.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) operatives said in their affidavit that they were on board on their service vehicle on their way to follow up a case when they noticed a vehicle with plate number PII-399, the one involved in a recent theft incident.

They followed the vehicle, whose passengers later jumped out and tried to flee. A chase followed, ending up with the arrest of the two. – (FREEMAN)