Caloocan holdupper nabbed anew

A notorious holdupper, released from prison late last year, was arrested anew on Saturday for robbing a neighbor in Caloocan City.

Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Northern Police District-District Police Intelligence Unit (NPD-DPIU) chief, identified the suspect as Ronald Gumabon, 23, a resident of Block 3, Lot 47, Phase 3-E-1, Barangay 14, Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City.

Gumabon was identified by his neighbor, Dennis Cresencio, as the person who robbed him of his cellphone and wallet containing P2,000 in cash and important documents last March 11.

Cresencio told police that he was about to enter the gate of his house at Block 1-Q, Lot 5, Phase 2-E-1 in Barangay 14 at around 1:30 a.m. when the suspect and his alleged cohort, identified as Arnold Veliganio, grabbed him and at knifepoint divested him of his valuables and fled.

But after two weeks in hiding, Gumabon resurfaced in their neighborhood.

The DPIU operatives, led by SPO2 Enrique "Ike" de Jesus, with PO2 Rowel Escorial and PO2 Virgilio Cervantes, pounced on the suspect for carrying a fanknife.

At the police station, Gumabon admitted owning the knife but denied robbing Cresencio.

"Laya na ako at wala ko alam d’yan (I’m now free and I have nothing to do with the robbery)," Gumabon said.

NPD director Senior Superintendent Raul Gonzales said the suspect was jailed on Sept. 3, 2003 for robbery charges. But after serving a year in prison, Gumabon was back to his old "job."

Meanwhile, in Malabon City, robbery suspect Jose Irish, 19, a resident of 6450 Libis Espina st., Caloocan City, was arrested by PO1 Felicisimo de Guia Jr., after robbing Francis Mendiola, 26, of his cash and valuables on Saturday.

Superintendent Moises Guevarra, the city police chief, said the victim, a resident of Barangay Hulong Duhat, Malabon, was walking along Buscano st. in Barangay Tugatog when he was approached by three unidentified men. Armed with an icepick, the men divested Mendiola of his cellphone and wristwatch.

Mendiola, however, sought the help of De Guia at the nearby Police Community Precinct 4 which led to the arrest of one of the three suspects.

Recovered from Irish was Mendiola’s wristwatch worth P150,000.

The victim’s mobile phone was reportedly with the two other suspects who remain at large.– Pete Laude