Camarines Sur mayor, escorts neutralize robbery-holdup suspects

Mayor Bobby Matamorosa, a gun enthusiast, was traversing the Andaya Highway towards Naga City with his two escorts at around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when a shooting incident ensued approximately 50 meters from where they were.

“I saw a man who was wearing an army raincoat drawing his gun and firing directly upon the driver and passenger of a Mitsubishi Strada,” he said.

Sensing trouble, Matamorosa directed his security escort PO1 Jeric M. Matamorosa to step out of their vehicle to investigation.

The escort, he said, was fired upon by one of the suspects.

An exchange of gunfire ensued.

One of the alleged holduppers identified as Marvin Magdaong was neutralized at around 8:45 a.m. while the other, Rodolfo Gumatay, was able to flee aboard a motorcycle towards Ragay town.

Matamorosa said that he called the Ragay Municipal Police Station, Lupi Municipal Police Station, and the Philippine Army to set up a blocking force while he and his two escorts pursued the holdupper.

Gumatay later disembarked at Banga Caves, Ragay, Camarines Sur where joint elements of the police and Army were waiting to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

Gumatay was apprehended at Sitio Nabuntungan at 1 p.m.

In an interview this morning, Camarines Sur PNP Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Walfredo Pornillos clarified that the suspects were neither members of the Army or the CAFGU, as earlier believed.

Meanwhile, the two Indian nationals were identified as Bahagwant Singh Buttar, 45 and Jaswinder Kaur, 36.

Investigators said the husband and wife were known moneylenders who resided in Barangay San Bartolome, Sipocot, Camarines Sur.

 

The suspects, it was learned, were interested in the money that the couple had collected for the day from their lending business.

Only last week, another Indian national was victimized by motorcycle-riding holduppers in Bula, Camarines Sur.

 

Said Indian national, who was a resident of Iriga City, was also engaged in lending money.

 

 

Melissa Basmayor is the editor-in-chief of the Bicol Standard, a regional partner of Philstar.com.