Just days after ‘driver’s’ arrest: Jewelry heist ‘lookout’ nabbed

CEBU, Philippines — A motorcycle-for-hire driver, suspected of being one of the lookouts during the brazen daylight robbery of two jewelry stories on F. Calderon Street, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City last August 8, was arrested in a buy-bust operation by the Mabolo Police Station.

The suspect, identified only as Mikmik, is a 42-year-old resident of Upper Torralba, Barangay Apas, Cebu City. He yielded sachets of suspected illegal drugs and a .48 revolver.

The police’s Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) identified Mikmik through CCTV footage of the robbery and confirmed that he was in the "immediate periphery" of the crime scene.

Mikmik, however, denied this, saying he and his cousin, who is also a motorcycle-for-hire driver, were merely the ones who gave a ride to the perpetrators on their way to a certain motel in Talisay City.

“Ig-udto mobiyahe naman ko, naa rako sa JY (in Lahug, Cebu City). Naa ang parkinganan diha. Timing nga nasakyan ko ana, duha ka buok nagtagsa mi sa akong ig-agaw,” he said.

After taking the perpetrators to Talisay, Mikmik claimed that he saw his passenger retrieve a large black bag from a gray car believed to be the Mitsubishi Adventure, which was the getaway vehicle. The men, he said, then called a taxi.

Lieutenant Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, SITG spokesperson, though, said CCTV footage showed Mikmik was the one who disposed of the firearms used during the crime together with a cohort.

“His participation was proven based on our evidence that we have discovered. He was present before, during, and after the incident. He was the one who disposed of the firearms nga gigamit didto sa mao nga heist,” said Macatangay.

“Ang kani man gud siya nga particular suspect kay exposed iya nga nawong in the particular CCTV. Wala siyay face mask, that's why easy ra siya na-identify,” she added.

Macatangay said the investigation is still ongoing as to where the robbers’ firearms are now, but locating them is a priority so they could not be used again in the commission of a crime or crimes.

She said Mikmik will be charged with violations of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), and of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).

Macatangay said that while the CCTV footage of the robbery initially showed seven to eight perpetrators, but the ongoing investigation has revealed that the number of those involved in the commission of the crime may be as many as nine.

“This is a carefully planned execution by them and it appears to us that they really involved a lot of (people) in disposing (of) the effects of the crime to certain degrees,” she said.

Macatangay assured that the police, particularly the SITG, is “on top of the situation”.

“We want to tell the people of Cebu City that here in Cebu City Police Office is really on top of the situation and we are serious in getting all these criminals and filing cases against them,” she said.

She revealed how four robbers, all members of the Parojinog Robbery Group, allegedly firstc sought out local contacts in Cebu. The group then relied on the local contacts to identify potential targets, conduct surveillance to study and assess the establishment’s vulnerabilities, and then executes their plan when everything is ready.

The Parojinog Robbery Group, also known as the Kuratong Baleleng Gang, is a notorious criminal organization with a history of multiple crimes perpetrated here in Cebu.

Its latest crime, allegedly the robbery of Macy’s Jewelry Store and D’ Gold Chain Jewelry Store, netted the group an estimated P15 million worth of assorted jewelry.

On a related note, Macatangay called on all gold dealers to be vigilant and report any transaction involving questionable amounts of jewelry.

“If there are unusual transactions involving questionable amounts of these particular items, they should report it to law enforcement authorities; they should not tolerate such activities by accepting these items,” she said.

She warned that buying fenced items would only encourage criminals to continue their illegal activities.

Presidential Decree No. 1612 (Anti-Fencing Law) prohibits the sale of stolen goods or items acquired through illegal means and both sellers and buyers can face charges if they deal in such stolen items.

The SITG also noted that if it is discovered that there are parties that are indeed financing or otherwise part in facilitating the crime of robbery, it will lead to a separate and more significant case. —/RHM (FREEMAN)