Robbery suspect charged

CEBU, Philippines - Four criminal complaints were filed yesterday before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against a 26-year old man accused of robbing a minimart in Compostela town.

Guillercito Capute, 26, a resident of Barangay Cabungahan, Danao City is facing charges for robbery, illegal possession of firearms and explosive, and for violation of the Commission on Election (Comelec) gun ban.

Capute was arrested in a hot pursuit operation last Saturday. Authorities confiscated from him a .45 pistol with five bullets and a fragmentation grenade.

Capute and his alleged cohort, Bobby Godinez, 36, a resident of Lapu-Lapu City, were accused of stealing at least P11,000 cash and valuables from the minimart. Police said witnesses identified the two with the help of footage from the close-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

Capute was arrested first at his residence and eventually told the police Godinez’ whereabouts during interrogation.

Godinez, however, was killed by the police in a subsequent  encounter. He sustained multiple wounds.

Reportedly, the PIB operatives introduced themselves as policemen and asked Godinez to surrender, but the suspect allegedly pulled out his .45 pistol prompting SPO1 Francis Alen Villamor, the team leader, to shot him in the knee to immobilize him.

However, Godinez reportedly returned fire.

Lucky

In an interview, Capute believes he is still lucky that he survived three operations that killed three of his companions.

Capute admitted he was with Godinez, James Harold Barbero and Ariel Almendras before he was arrested by the PIB Saturday morning.

“Kani lagi gusto ta’g kwarta nga dali ra (I only wanted to have fast money),” Capute said, comparing his earning to what he used to get as a motorcycle-for-hire driver. 

Capute has reportedly just allied with Godinez recently. 

“Dili pa mi ingon dugay nga kaila mao pa’y pagkuyog namo ato unya trip lang ginagmay (We only knew each other recently. That was the first time we were together),” he said.

PIB chief Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr. said that before he allied with Godinez, Capute worked with Barbero who was killed for resisting arrest during an operation on January 2012 in Talisay City.

Barbero was also the suspect in the shooting to death of Juan Carlos Villordon who tried to defend his girlfriend whose bag was grabbed by the suspect in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

After Barbero died, his right hand, Ariel Almendras took charge of the group that Capute joined. But Almendras was killed in a shootout with PIB in Barangay Guimbal, Compostela in May last year.

Almendras succumbed to gunshot wounds in the back.

The group was about to pull a heist when the encounter happened. They were said to be responsible in series of robberies in southern Cebu.

The store’s owner will pursue charges against Cepute.

Taxi robbery

Meanwhile, two employees  of a mall in Cebu City were arrested by the Sogod police for robbing a taxi driver dawn last Sunday.

Emmanuel Berame, 21, of Barangay Mainit, Naga City and Aljie Montes, 21, of Barangay Carmelo, Tuburan, flagged down the taxi driven by Frankie Tariman, 46, along D. Jakosalem Street in Cebu City and asked that they be brought to Barangay Oprra where the suspects declared a hold-up.

Berame reportedly used a barbeque stick to point at Tariman’s neck.

Even after Tariman gave his P1,600 cash to the suspects, Montes reportedly grabbed the wheel and drove the taxi until they reached Sogod, which is seven towns north of Cebu City. 

“Nagpakilouy ko nga bahala ilang kuhaon akong kwarta basta di lang ko nila patyon (I begged them to spare my life and just take my money),” Tariman said.

The taxi driver eventually jumped off the taxicab out of fear and sought help from the Sogod Police in Barangay Damolog, Sogod dawn. The suspects were arrested in a hot pursuit operation.  (FREEMAN)