Police foil rob try

CEBU, Philippines - The City Intelligence Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office yesterday foiled an attempt by three men to rob a lending firm in barangay Basak, Mandaue City last Thursday afternoon.

Arrested were Raymund Cejudo, 35, of barangay Maslog, Tabogon, Cebu and Acheron Kirby Brassi, 32, of sitio San Miguel in barangay Lorega, Cebu City.

Supt. Josefino Ligan, CIB chief, said he and his men went to the Gladiola Lending Corp. at North Road, barangay Basak after receiving a call from the establishment that told the police about the presence of armed men nearby.

When they arrived, Ligan said they noticed a man wearing a pair of camouflaged short pants and tucking a gun in his waist.

Operatives approached the man and asked if he was a police officer, but instead of answering, he tried to run away.

But the officers held the man who later was identified as Cejudo and seized from him a loaded .357 revolver.

The police officers also found shabu in his possession.

While Cejudo was being frisked, other operatives noticed the presence of two other men who ran away.

After a chase, the police arrested Brassi while the other man, who was identified as Dexter Monterola of Tabogon, Cebu, former employee of the Gladiola Lending Corp, eluded arrest.

The police seized from Brassi a hand grenade, a loaded .45 pistol, and alleged shabu.

While escaping, Monterola got rid of his loaded .38 revolver.

According to Ligan, the three men had planned to rob the firm and kill its owner who fired and sued Monterola for qualified theft.

By killing the owner, Monterola would have his revenge, Ligan said.

Ligan said Cejudo and Brassi were arrested in Bogo in 2011 because of robbery and drug charges, respectively.

Ligan said Brassi is a known member of a gun-for-hire group operating in northern Cebu.

Charges were filed against the two men yesterday in the City Prosecutor’s Office. (FREEMAN)