Former cop tagged in another robbery

CEBU, Philippines - A former policeman, who was reportedly involved in a heist two weeks ago, was again tagged as one of the suspects in the robbery of a pizza outlet on Tuesday.

Eugene Salingay, a dismissed policeman from Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental, was identified by the two employees of Alberto's Pizza along Pelaez Street, Barangay San Antonio, Cebu City as one of the possible robbers.

Salingay was named as one of the men responsible for robbing the Western Union outlet in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Guadalupe, along with his accomplice, former police officer Ronilo Manuel, who was earlier arrested.

The robbers of the branch of Alberto's Pizza reportedly took around P22,000 worth of the day's proceeds.

The robbers allegedly pointed a gun at the cashier, Gena Valencia, and demanded her to give them their proceeds. They also took away the personal belongings of the employees. The robbers immediately took off on board a motorcycle.

The incident reportedly took place barely five minutes after patrolling police officers passed by the establishment.

Cebu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana said that footages recorded from a closed circuit television camera showed images of the robbers' faces.

He said that Salinga's cohort had not been identified yet and that they are still conducting a manhunt operation against Salingay.

He cited that apparently, Salingay's motive of robbing establishments is to sustain their expenses for illegal drugs. "Nagiging trend and behavior na nila. Mga adik talaga ito," he said.

Romana further said that they are still getting more information on Salingay's presence in Oroquieta City who could have returned to his hometown.

"If I were him, mas mainam pa sumurrender na siya kasi alam-alam na naming lahat ng posibleng pagtatakbuhan niya," he said.

Romana added that they even convinced the families of the suspects to surrender the former cops to the authorities.

Last Monday, a robbery case was already filed against Salingay and a certain "Pao-Pao" in relation to the Western Union robbery on October 9.— (FREEMAN)