More victims show up to file raps vs robbers

CEBU, Philippines - Three more victims showed up at the Mandaue City Police Office yesterday to lodge their complaints against nine members of the Laglag Susi/Barya/Salisi gang who were arrested Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Michael Anthony Bastes of the Investigative and Detection Management Bureau said they have also received calls from other people who claimed they, too, were victimized.

A 64-year-old woman from Barangay Basak, Mandaue City was among those who filed complaints yesterday.

The woman, who wished her name withheld, claimed to have lost an estimated P300,000 worth of assorted jewelry, P13,000 cash and several gadgets to the suspects last April 25 near the Insular Mall in Barangay Maguikay.

She identified one of the culprits as Jonar Alidria, 31, of Davao City, the live-in partner of Edna Garcia, 49, of Bacoor, Cavite who has been reported as the gang's leader.

Alidria and Garcia were among those nabbed by the police in Tuesday's follow-up operation.

Other arrested suspects were Simplicio Conde, 45, of Aroroy, Masbate; Jamboy Tagon, 30, of Villagonzalo 2, Cebu City; Mary Ann Abrazaldo, 39, of Baybay, Leyte; Arnold Losarito, 45, of Davao City; Jomar Balwa, 25, of Barangay 22, Davao City; Jody Blasong, 37, of Boulevard, Davao City; and Rosalie Gerodias of Purok 3, Annex, Ozamiz City.

The arrests came after one of their alleged cohorts, identified as Jamboy Tagon – who also goes by the aliases "Rowel Hadon," "RR," "Ronalyn" and "Ligaya" – was collared  after  he tried to victimize Hiroshi Hirasawa, 26, on Monday.

Hirasawa, a Japanese national who happened to be a Jujitsu martial arts instructor, subdued Tagon after a short hustle inside a mall in Barangay Bakilid.

Meanwhile, another victim, Lucy Browell, 58, also identified Balwa yesterday as the one who knocked on her Crosswind car while it was parked at the Cebu IT Park several months ago.

Balwa lost her Kimbel bag, which was among the items the police recovered in the suspects' hideout in Barangay Lamac. She also lost P5,000 cash, phone and jewelry.

Former newspaper reporter Cris Evert Lato, 28, of Liloan town also phoned up Bastes yesterday and vowed to file her own complaint against the group.

Lato was eating in a barbeque place in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City last March when the suspects succeeded in getting her bag which contained her passport, plane ticket to the United States, P6,000 and $300 in cash.

Bastes urged other victims to turn themselves in and press charges against the suspects. He welcomed the arrests of the gang members as he hopes it will finally put an end to the string of robbery cases in Metro Cebu.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Prudencio Tom Bañas earlier said the arrests of the nine suspects should serve as a warning to all lawless elements planning to operate in Cebu ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

"This will serve as a deterrent to those who intend to continue or project to operate in Cebu. Sooner or later, the long arm of the law will get you," he said.

Bañas also commended his men for the accomplishment and thanked the community, which he said played a great role in the success of the operation.

Bañas said they are aiming to have zero crime during the APEC meetings, especially that delegates from other countries will be here. (FREEMAN)