Two ‘robbers’ found positive for gunpowder

CEBU, Philippines - Two of three suspected robbers, two of whom were killed in a recent shootout with policemen in Mambaling, Cebu City, were found positive for gun powder residue.

City Intelligence Branch chief Romeo Santander said gunpowder residue was found in the hand of Dean Mark “Sadam” Codinera, who died in a shootout with CIB operatives at South Road Properties on November 18.

Joseph Cuevas, who was arrested during the operation, also tested po-sitive for gunpowder residue while Evaristo Ytang, who was also killed in the shootout, tested negative, Santander disclosed.

The result, according to Santander, is an affirmation that a shootout really happened between the CIB operatives and the three suspected robbers.

Ytang may have been found negative for gunpowder residue, but it is very likely that he intended to also shoot at the police officers but his firearm just misfired, said Santander.

Santander said that the bullet inside the cal. 38 revolver recovered from Ytang had a mark in it that indicated that the gun have been charged but misfired.

The CIB chief’s statement was corroborated by Senior Police Officer 1 Ruth Violango of the Homicide Section, the chief investigator of the case.

At about 1 a.m. on November 18, Codinera, Ytang and Cuevas were riding in two separate motorcycles when they spotted and eluded a checkpoint at Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

CIB personnel who were by chance at the area patrolling followed them and asked for backup, records of the Mobile Patrol Group showed.

Personnel of the Motorcycle Riding Unit of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team responded to the call and chased the suspects who allegedly fired several shots at them.

Cueva was shot in the leg near Jai-Alai, Mambaling and fell down the road. He was arrested by the police and brought to the hospital.

Codinera and Ytang continued to drive toward SRP and were shot by the police officers, resulting to their death.

The police recovered a revolver from each of the suspects.

Cueva, who is currently detained, was charged for violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearm and Ammunition on top of two traffic violations.

Separate shooting incidents

Meanwhile, an alleged robber was gunned down while a minor was injured in separate shooting incidents in Cebu City recently.

Roboam Villegas, 23, died immediately after he was shot by an unidentified persons on Wednesday. The victim was reportedly seen walking at Inayawan Public Market prior to the incident.

One of the assailants then pulled out a cal. 45 pistol and shot Villegas three times hitting his right ear, left cheek, and stomach. He fell and died on the ground while the assailants fled toward the interior portion of the place.

Three empty shells apparently from a cal. 45 pistol, two mobile phones, and personal belongings of the victim were found in the crime scene.

Police Officer 1 Junimark Ungab, Homicide Section investigator, said that the victim is a known robber and has been involved in different robbery incidents. The police are also looking into the victim’s reported conflict with other robbery groups as a possible motive.

In Barangay Tejero, a 17-year-old boy was wounded after he was shot by two unidentified persons riding on a motorcycle.

The boy was reportedly getting water from a piso-piso-operated water dispenser in Sitio Villagonzalo II when the armed assailants appeared. One of them shot the victim then fled toward T. Padilla Street.

Ungab said they are looking into teen conflict as a possible motive behind the incident.

“Magpakitang gilas man daw na siya mag-drive og motor unya daghan og batan-on nagtapok sa eskina,” the police officer said. (FREEMAN)