Suspected bigtime rob gang member arrested

CEBU, Philippines - After years of hiding from authorities, a suspected member of a Mindanao robbery gang was arrested by Cebu City police in an operation in Misamis Occidental recently.

Armed with two warrants of arrest, personnel of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office arrested Felbert Mata, alias “Kokoy”, 35, in Barangay Linconan, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental, last Wednesday.

Chief Insp. Alexis Relado, who heads IDMB, said they arrested Mata for warrants of arrest for possession of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

The warrants were issued, respectively, by Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul of the Regional Trial Court Branch 8 in May 2010 and Judge Gilbert Moises of RTC Branch 18 in May 2012.

Supervised by Relado, PO3 Phillip Ray Alcazar and PO1 Milbert Yosores proceeded to Misamis Occidental after they were tipped off that Mata, who once lived in Talisay City, Cebu, was sighted in the place.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Oroquieta Provincial Police. The arresting team was apprehending Mata at a compound in Barangay Linconan when the police were fired upon by the suspect’s companion, which resulted to a brief shootout.

Police were eventually able to arrest Mata and Roy Doronio, 39. Both suspects are residents of Ozamiz City.

Police recovered from Doronio a baby M16 rifle and a magazine with nine live rounds.  Mata’s illegal drug case had no bail while the bail for his gun possession case was set at P60,000.

Relado said both Doronio and Mata are suspected to be involved in the 2008 robbery of the Golden Treasures jewelry store inside Mango Square Mall in Cebu City.  The robbers allegedly came from Mindanao.

“Mata is being suspected to have participated in the Golden Treasure robbery sa Mango. He is closely associated kay Doronio, who has questionable character ug gidudahan usab na apil sa maong robbery,” Relado told reporters yesterday.

Doronio is now in the custody of Oroquieta Provincial Police.

The IDMB chief further disclosed that Mata evaded a buy-bust operation in Ta-lisay City in 2008 and went to Ozamiz City and lived as a farmer since then.

Mata has denied the accusations against him.   (FREEMAN)