Limotan denies part in two bigtime heists

Suspected notorious robber Danny Limotan has denied having anything to do with the P2-million payroll robbery in Mandaue City last month or the Ace Investment heist in barangay Santa Cruz last year.

Limotan, 31, arrived in Cebu 8 a.m. yesterday onboard a vessel from Cagayan de Oro City following his arrest in Valencia, Bukidnon, by a 9-man team led by Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch chief Paul Labra.

He was presented to the media by acting city director Melvin Gayotin later where he claimed he was never a leader in the Torres robbery group because he was only a driver.

He said there were even times when he was pistol-whipped by Ruel Torres because he was a lousy driver and because he regularly complained about how many unknown people would partake of their loot.

He said Torres, who was arrested by Labra's group in Monte Alegre, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, last June 14 would always set aside something for someone who was only referred as the "boss" but whom they did not know nor see.

"Moreklamo ko kay kadaghan bang santos nga hatagan og bahin nga dili ni lalim atong trabaho. Maayo gani sila kay igo ra sila mosakay ako magkalisang-lisang kay akoy driver. Moingon ra man sad siya (Torres) nga, ako gani sa una tiglaba, tigtimpla rako sa mga tulisan didto sa Manila. Swerte kaayo mo kay gidala tamo diretso," he said as he recalled working with Torres.

He said aside from the issue on an equal distribution on loot he left the group because Torres was reportedly planning to kill broadcast journalist Bobby Nalzaro and he was tasked to pull the trigger on the latter. Limotan said he refused because he felt he could not carry such a big project so it was given to another member who also refused until the plot was eventually dropped.

"Moingon gani si Nalzaro nga polpol ang polis mokatawa siya (Torres). Atakihon gani ang mga tulisan maglagot siya kausa gipospos niya ang radyo," Limotan revealed.

He said Torres hated Nalzaro due to the latter's attacks on robbers and that Torres himself was planning to kill suspended policeman Adonis Dumpit to stop him from going after criminals.

Interestingly it was Dumpit and PO2 Milo Arriola who shot Torres in the leg which later had to be amputated. - Ryan P. Borinaga and Cristina C. Birondo