Police on the hunt for robbery gang head

CEBU, Philippines - Police are now hunting down the alleged leader of a local robbery gang that pulled off robbery and murder incidents in Cebu City recently.

City Intelligence Branch (CIB) chief Romeo Santander said four men comprised the "well-organized" group and one of them was Sandy Kho, who has already been arrested.

Kho, Santander said, revealed vital information about the group including the names of his cohorts and their particular role during every robbery.

"Gibutyag niya ang leader sa grupo, ang iyang mga kauban, the way mu-execute sila sa plan, kadtong mga targets. There were cases nga na-solve na with his arrest," said Santander.

Kho, in his extra judicial confession, further revealed that in the group, there was a financier, a planner, and an executioner. The latter was his assignment.

Kho, 33, also disclosed to police that their supposed target establishments this week, which would have included a jewelry store and a plastic company.

Santander said they trust Kho's confessions as reliable.

"Ni-jive ang iyang gipanulti sa information na nakuha nato. Ang mga personalities na iyang gisulti, ni-come up when we exchanged notes with the RID (Regional Intelligence Divisionb," he said.

The CIB chief said they could not conclude if they are dealing with a big syndicate, but the group is surely well-organized.

"Dako sila na grupo for local boys and they might be local contacts of Mindanao-based robbery groups, so we will also inform our counterparts in Mindanao," said Santander.

Police further got information that Kho's group was already formed by the time he joined the group in February. They would then meet everyday, neighbors disclosed.

Kho, who has Chinese roots, previously worked as a security guard and then as a tricycle driver before he was recruited to the group.

Even with his confessions, charges will still be filed against the suspect, said Santander.

The suspect was arrested in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-lapu City on Monday dawn after he was seized with a motorcycle that he and his cohort reportedly stole. They also reportedly engaged in a shootout with the police.

Kho, a resident of Barangay Gun-ob of the same city, was seized with two firearms while his companion escaped.

He was reportedly involved in a robbery in Barangays Inayawan and Talamban last Saturday and the shooting to death of a real estate broker in Barangay Banilad on Dec. 2.— (FREEMAN)