Cops warn public vs robbers

CEBU, Philippines - Police are warning financial establishments, jewelry stores and apartments to be cautious about the presence of  the Acetylene Gang following the foiled robbery in Naga City last Tuesday.

Superintendent Brindo Nacario, Naga City police chief, said they are now alerting all possible target establishments while hunting down three people believed to be members of Acetylene Gang.

Three men, one named Alex Sabado from Toledo City, rented a house in Barangay Central Poblacion, Naga City that was just a few blocks away from a pawnshop and a bank. Policemen later found a hole on the ground leading to both establishments.

“Aside from alerting the establishments, I also directed barangay tanods in every barangay to make a profiling sa mga bag-ong salta sa ilang lugar,” Nacario said, believing that Sabado just used an alias.

Cebu City Intelligence Branch chief, Supt. Romeo Santander, has also directed all station chiefs to inspect their areas of responsibility, specifically on possible targets of the group, as he directed the public not to immediately accept suspicious lodgers or people looking for apartments.

He said it is also better if establishments install an alarm system as an additional preventive measure.

Police will also distribute pictures of the three robbers who were former miners based on their intelligence monitoring.

“Most of the members are from Luzon, but we  are not discounting the possibility nga naa’y from Visayas,” the CIB chief said.

Last Tuesday, Naga police received a call for assistance from the house caretaker who already got suspicious of the “tenants,” whom he never saw went out of the house since they rented last March.

Police entered the house and found the hole that ended on a drainage system. They believed that the robbers failed to pass through the area due to the garbage clogged on the drainage.

Digging materials, a sack of soil, and clothing believed to be owned by the three were recovered. The robbers were no longer around during the operation. – (FREEMAN)