CEBU, Philippines - The police are set to file charges against two Crips gang members who were identified as the ones who robbed and killed a couple in Barangay Day-as, Cordova town on Sunday night.
Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Directorial Staff of the Police Regional Office-7, ordered Cordova Police to file robbery with homicide charges against brothers Joseph and Jake Bas.
The brothers, both of legal age, were identified by witnesses as well as the five-year-old daughter of Ranilo Tampus and wife Elisa as the ones who killed the couple after robbing them.
Lawas said he has talked with Cordova police chief Senior Inspector Alexander Nuñez and instructed him to file the charges against the brothers amid the ongoing manhunt operation against the two.
“While they are conducting the manhunt, probably if they have enough evidence to file the case, they should file the case. They should not wait for the arrest of the suspects, ‘pwede na man na i-file ang kaso,” he said.
Lawas said the case is further bolstered by the positive identification of eyewitnesses including Leanna Nicole, the five-year-old daughter of the couple who was spared by the suspects in the shooting.
The child was shown by police with photos of the suspects and pointed at them as the ones who indeed robbed and shot her parents dead.
“The suspects were positively identified by some of the witnesses who were there during the incident and of the child,” said Lawas.
A follow-up operation is being conducted by Cordova police in coordination with Cebu City Police Office to locate the suspects.
According to Lawas, the suspects, apart from being gang members, are involved in robbery incidents and illegal drug activities.
“There were prior incidents involving these two personalities in Inayawan. Usa pud ‘ni sa atong gitan-aw kung na-file-an ba ni’g kaso sa Inayawan,” the PRO-7 official said.
With their alleged criminal record in Inayawan, they left Cebu City and moved to Cordova.
The couple and their daughter were reportedly riding on a motorcycle on their way to Barangay Apas, Cebu City when the suspects blocked their way.
The robbers shot the couple, spared the child, and then fled with the victims’ bag containing between P200,000 to P300,000 cash and valuables, and the motorcycle. (FREEMAN)