Pawnshop ‘robber’ falls, yields P114T shabu, gun

CEBU, Philippines - A motorcycle-for-hire driver and alleged robbery group leader was arrested after he yielded a firearm and packs of shabu in Barangay Poblacion, Tuburan town on Tuesday.

Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch arrested Lauro Vergara, 30, of Barangay Talavera, Toledo City, whom witnesses identified as one of those who robbed Palawan Pawnshop in Barangay Buanoy, Balamban last Sunday.

PIB personnel led by Senior Inspector Armando Labora, PIB’s deputy chief, made the arrest in coordination with intelligence personnel of Tuburan and Balamban police stations.

Confiscated from Vergara were a cal. 38 revolver and packs of shabu amounting to P114,000. The items were sent to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug for ballistic examination and chemical analysis, respectively.

Labora’s team was in Balamban when they received a report that Vergara was seen armed in Tuburan.

Police responded and found the revolver tucked in Vergara’s waistline. The suspect was arrested before he could have pulled out the gun.

“Nagkagubot kay natural reaction sa suspek molugnot pero tungod sa element of surprise, wala na siya kasukol,” said Labora.

Vergara was positively identified by witnesses, including Buanoy chief barangay tanod Allan Milan, who was shot by Vergara’s older brother and alleged robbery cohort Joel.

Milan said he was responding to the robbery last Sunday afternoon and asked the pawnshop guard what was happening when Joel tried to shoot him with a gun though luckily, it malfunctioned.

“Diha ang guard unya akong gipangutana kung unsay problema, nagkurog nga mikuot sa iyang armas (Joel) unya sige’g pitik. Dali ko nagpalayo,” Milan said.

PIB chief Rodulfo Albotra said the names of the robbers popped up due to previous heists in midwestern Cebu and in neighboring towns.

Vergara’s name is also on the watchlist of intelligence community. He was also a drug courier, police said.

“Identified na man gyud na sila kay notorious man. Usa pa, naila si Vergara tungod sa iyang alom ug uwat between sa iyang mata,” Albotra said.

The media tried to get Vergara’s side, but other than denying the accusation by saying “wala,” he just kept mum.

According to the police, Vergara’s group targets delivery trucks and financial establishments.

Police are now conducting follow-up operations for the possible arrest of Vergara’s cohorts. — (FREEMAN)