CEBU, Philippines - A policeman, who was one of the jeepney passengers held up Friday afternoon at the Reclamation Area in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, just couldn't look the other way, being the protector of the law that he is.
PO1 Reagan Perilla, assigned at the Samboan town police station was on his way home in barangay Jugan, Consolacion town that afternoon when three men boarded the same jeepney he was in.
Perilla told investigator SPO3 Alfredo Andales one holdup man was seated in front of him, another behind the driver, while still another positioned himself near the entrance.
Perilla said the man seated opposite him whipped out a gun and then the two accomplices collected the passengers' valuables.
Perilla said he handed over his cellular phone and wallet to keep his gun in his waist from being detected.
Just as the holdup men were about to get off from the jeepney, Perilla said he grabbed the hands of the man who took his wallet and cellfone.
They both fell on the pavement as the jeepney made an abrupt forward move, and the man after grappling with Perilla managed to escape.
Perilla said he shot at the fleeing man but missed.
Perilla then went to the nearby Subangdaku police station for assistance but unknown to him, a taxi driver who had seen the drama as it unfolded, immediately informed the police.
The Subangdaku police mobile patrol car with Perilla then took off to chase the holdup men.
The Rogue Gallery at the Mabolo police station helped Perilla identify the holdup men. He found out that one of the culprits was a 15-year-old.
Mark Ryan Yusores, 20, was arrested in barangay Carreta, Cebu City while Junrey Patria and the juvenile were arrested in sitio Lahing-lahing in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City yesterday dawn.
Seized from Patria and the juvenile were a .38 caliber revolver, an improvised shotgun, and two rolls of marijuana.
All suspects are detained at the Subangdaku police station pending the filing of charges against them. (FREEMAN)