After stealing jewelry worth P1 m: Man shot, injured after eluding arrest

CEBU, Philippines - Policemen shot and injured a man who tried to elude arrest after stealing pieces of jewelry worth P1 million last Tuesday at past 5:00 in the afternoon in Barangay Poblacion Oriental, Consolacion.

The suspect, Allan Ebalan, 36, of Calape, Bohol, sustained one gunshot wound in the right portion of his body and was taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for treatment.

Ebalan was temporarily renting a house at the back portion of the victim’s house.

Police recovered four pieces of gold necklace worth P1 million; a flat screen television worth P16,000; a Smith and Wesson snub nosed .38 revolver loaded with five bullets and another Smith and Wesson .38 revolver with six bullets.

Also recovered were robbery equipment, a “bara de kabra (crowbar)”, GI cutters, iron saw and a kitchen knife.

Police however, failed to recover the fire-proof safety vault owned by the victim, Delfin Maglasang, containing P30,000 cash; 300 dollars cash; a diamond ring worth P65,000 and a gold necklace worth P130,000 which Ebalan carted away a few days ago.

Maglasang is residing in the United States and his nephew, Abel Maglasang, 43, is left to take care of the house.

Abel alleged that he visited the house when he noticed that the main door was already open.

He then noticed two knapsacks inside which increased his suspicions that an intruder is inside.

Abel then asked assistance from barangay tanods who cordoned the house before they called the police.

SPO3 Roy Susvilla, investigator, told The FREEMAN that when police was inside the house, Ebalan tried to get his revolver but was shot first by PO3 Edmund Melendrez.

“Nahibulong man gud ang mga pulis nga nawala ug kalit pagkaigo unya didto diay nidagan sa luyo sa balay, (The police wondered why he suddenly disappeared. They found out that he ran behind the house.)” Susvilla said in a phone interview.

Police found out that Ebalan used improvised rappelling equipment at the back portion of the victim’s house towards his rented house for his escape.

Ebalan was trapped and arrested inside the bathroom of his house.

Police are now tracing the stolen pieces of jewelry at nearby pawnshops after they recovered a pawnshop receipt from Ebalan dated February 25.

“Dugay na gyud ni niyang gihinay-hinayan unya gikatag-katag ug prenda ang mga alahas, (He has been taking the jewelry and pawned them in many pawnshops.)” Susvilla said.

A case for robbery is being prepared against Ebalan who is now detained at the Consolacion police stockade. —/MIT (FREEMAN)