Robbery group from Mindanao is here — police

CEBU, Philippines - The police alerted all financial institutions in Cebu because of the alleged presence of a robbery group from Mindanao.

Regional Intelligence Division-7 Deputy Chief Rex Derilo said that the different intelligence units will be meeting the heads of the different financial institutions and security groups in Cebu to beef up their security plans.

Derilo said they have to discuss with the owners of financial institutions and with the security agency operators to work together and prevent possible robbery incident.

Among those that the intelligence units are meeting are the members of the Cebu Bankers Association, Cebu Bankers Club, Association of Convenience Store Owners, taxi operators, Muslim community in Cebu, and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"We have identities and detailed descriptions of these people and hope to intercept them before their unlawful acts," Derilo said.

The intelligence units and their counterparts are now working to arrest the members of the group.

"Our networks established by the RID have been working in favor of public safety and we received overwhelming cooperation making the world of the criminal elements becomes smaller," Derilo said.

The said group was spotted in pier area in Cebu City before the Sinulog celebration.

The group usually targets banks, pawnshops, and money changer establishments

Meanwhile, two robbery suspects tried to escape from police custody by jumping off the patrol car while on their way back to Pinamungajan police station after filing the complaint at the provincial prosecutor's office last Tuesday.

Still in handcuffs, Joed Silva, 21, and Joel Canillas, 20, both from Barangay Tajao, Pinamungajan, jumped off the police car in an attempt to escape. The suspects who were charged with robbery took advantage of the situation because only one policeman was guarding them at the back seat.

Pinamungajan police chief Roseller Paler said that the two arresting officers, PO 2 Alcris Labrador and PO2 Bendie Nuñez, did not anymore escort the suspects back to the police station.

Labrador and Nuñez allegedly left the suspects to Police Officer 1 Jonevier Manabat, Froilan Velasquez, and PO3 Nonita Baroman after filing the case because of personal reasons.

Velasquez was driving the patrol car while Baroman was seated beside him. Manabat was at the back seat together with the suspects. Upon reaching near the public market in Toledo City the patrol car slowed down to give way to a foot procession. However, the suspects tried to make a dash for freedom.

Manabat was able to hold Canillas and prevented him from running but Silva managed to run. Silva was later recaptured after he went home.

"Tanan balay nga posibleng adtoan gipa-atngan nako ug pulis hangtod nga niuli siya kay baynte pisos ra diay (ang) dalang kwarta," Paler said in a phone interview.

Paler said he will ask Nuñez and Labrador to explain why there should be no disciplinary action to be taken against them for failure to escort the suspects back to the police station.

"The arresting officers are responsible for escorting the suspects back to the police station," Paler said.

Silva and Canillas were arrested together with a 15-year-old boy last Monday after robbing a sari-sari store. — (FREEMAN)