Payroll rob suspect "aggressive and bold"

"Aggressive and bold," was how Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch chief Paul Labra described suspected bigtime robber Danny Limotan, a former accomplice of notorious suspected robber Ruel Bernes Torres.

Limotan is eyed as among those who robbed payroll money worth P2 million in Mandaue City when the car of the victims stopped at a red light Friday afternoon.

Labra confirmed Limotan is indeed capable of carrying out the robbery saying he "is even more aggressive" than Torres who was arrested in Mindanao last month.

Torres, formerly the most wanted man in the region, is now confined at the Cebu City Medical Center with only one leg after having an amputation.

Labra said Limotan is armed and dangerous and will not hesitate to kill would-be victims should the need arise.

"Mas irritable na siya kay ni Torres. Mas mopalit na siya og gubot. I don't know why yet," Labra said.

Perusing through the records of old intelligence reports The Freeman learned that Limotan used to be a motorcycle-for-hire and tricycle driver in barangay Tingub, Mandaue City.

He had several affairs with women and has a five-year old son who is now with a sister in Tingub.

Limotan, a native of Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, met Torres through Nando Abapo who was known to be from Agus, Ibabao, Lapu-Lapu City.

It was last year when the two groups merged and robbed an employee of Lim Block Inc. who was carrying P151,700 in payroll money at the North Reclamation Area.

But Torres and Roldan Rodriguez were arrested, they later posted bail and skipped their hearing, signaling the beginning of Torres' notoriety.

In last Friday's heist in Mandaue City, the robbers were on board a yellow motorcycle with no plate number; two of them got off and approached the victim's car at the corner of S. Cortez and A.S. Fortuna streets.

After the robbery, victims Christopher Yu, Leslie Simon and Antonio Gallaga did not bother to talk to policemen and instead sent their representative Perfecto delos Reyes to the Casuntingan police station.

It was traffic enforcer, a certain "Titing" Pepito, who identified Limotan from the police rogues gallery saying he tried to apprehend them for driving a motorcycle with no plate number but he backed off when Limotan brandished a .45 cal. pistol.