Witnesses identify suspect in Balamban robbery

CEBU, Philippines - The Balamban police now have a lead on the identity of one of the suspects in the heist of an agricultural veterinary (agrivet) store in Barangay Aliwanay, Balamban town, three days ago.

Senior Police Officer 1 Jose Ranelito Villarino, chief investigator of the Balamban Police Station, said that witnesses positively identified one of the four robbers who pointed a gun at 18-year-old utility worker Edwin Layon. The four robbers were on board two motorcycles and ran off with P25,000 cash Wednesday evening.

Villarino said that the witnesses were customers in a bakeshop just beside the agrivet store.

“Naa gyud sila sa lugar. Sila mismo nakakita,” he said.

Villarino earlier said that Layon was able to identify the robber who pointed a gun at him. Layon also told police that he noticed the robbers observing the store prior to the robbery.

Another robber pointed a gun at the store’s cashier, Hanneliel Fieldad, 30, and took the cash from the drawer while the two other robbers went inside the store.

After the incident, the four casually walked away from the store.

Villarino, however, said that he cannot divulge the suspect’s identity pending investigation.

He added that they also received information Thursday afternoon that the getaway vehicles used by the robbers, a black XRM motorcycle and a blue Suzuki motorcycle, were spotted in a neighboring town. When they arrived in the area to check, the vehicles were already gone.

“Dili pa confirmed if mao gyud ang plate number but the description of the vehicles really fits sa nakita didto,” he said.

The police are still conducting a follow-up investigation into the case.

Villarino said they are also checking other robbery incidents to check the possibility of having the same suspects. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/ATO (FREEMAN)