Robbers take loose change in latest heist

Was it for the money or just to taunt the police?

Another Western Union Money Transfer Branch located some 500 meters away from the Fuente Police Station became the latest robbery victim of suspected remnants of the Rey Torres-Danny Limotan robbery group, which is now led by Jemuel "Roldan Villanueva" Cardoza.

The robbers group allegedly composed of Cardoza, Nando Abapo and Renato Hermosilla robbed the Western Union branch at noontime yesterday running away with only P3,500 and US$150.

Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) Chief Paul Labra believes that the group was not after getting the money, but just wanted to shame the police as a way of getting back following the arrest of Randel Peralta, one of the group's members, in Barili last October 25.

Peralta was identified as the driver of the getaway motorcycle during the robbery of a Western Union Branch located along Ramos st. last October 15. Cardoza and Junard Pabriga were tagged to be among the four men, who took part in heist carting away more than P800,000 in cash.

"They are up to something. They are not after the money kay kahibaw gud sila nga Sunday ron mingaw. Kaning ila pagsungog ra gyud ni nato aron makabawos sila after nadakpan si Peralta. Sige lang ila pa ron," Labra declared.

Witnesses said that Abapo first went inside the establishment and told cashier Janice Dahunan that he was to mail money somewhere but at the mention of the amount, Cardoza who was armed with .45 caliber Colt pistol then barged in and declared a hold-up.

Cardoza immediately disarmed security guard Samuel Lobiano of his .38 cal. revolver while Abapo kept an eye on Dahunan, Hermosilla then entered and demanded for the money from the cashier.

The heist was pulled off quickly so that it was not clear which way the robbers went after they left the establishment or whether they were onboard a motorcycle or just casually walked away.

Unlike in the previous robberies blamed on Cardoza's group pulled off in the city where there were accidental firings, the heist yesterday was done cleanly and quickly.

It was Dahunan, who identified Abapo and Hermosilla through the pictures shown to her by Labra while Lobiano pointed out Cardoza from the photographs.

The Universal Storefront Services Corporation operates the said branch of Western Union Money Transfer.

The PNP Crime Laboratory recently reported that only one gun was used in all five big-time heists in the city recently - a .45 caliber pistol.

These were the East West Bank heist last September 26 wherein more than P70,000 cash was taken, the Western Union money transfer heist along Ramos Street last October 15 wherein an estimated P800,000 in local and foreign currency were lost.

Last October 4, Cardoza was also identified as one of those who robbed a fish vendor of P70, 000 cash and a mobile phone worth P20,000 in barangay Capitol-Site. He was reportedly with Doroteo Imperial and two back-ups one, who was later identified to be Peralta.

On October 6, the Cebu Peoples Development Cooperative CEPEDCO located along Junquera street was robbed by three armed men running away with close to P80,000 worth of cash and a laptop computer while two employees lost P5,800 of their personal money.

Later on, Hermosilla and Cardoza were tagged as among those who did it. Then Peralta was also identified as the man, who was at the establishment an hour before the heist.

Last September 23, Cardoza together with Doroteo Imperial were tagged as the ones who robbed a moneychanger in barangay Mabolo where they carted away about P200,000.

Cardoza was jailed at Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center in September last year after he and Torres were arrested for robbing payroll money that was being transported to Mandaue City via the North Reclamation Area.

But both stayed there for almost two months only since they managed to post bail for their temporary liberty and that freedom signaled the alleged notoriety of Torres robbing one establishment after another from November last year up to June this year.

Torres, police said, used to be a co-leader of a robbery group along with Limotan, but they later had a falling out and went on their own by forming subgroups.

Last June and July Torres and Limotan were arrested by an elite team of policemen from Cebu City led by Labra during successful operations in two areas in Mindanao.

With Limotan and Torres now detained at BBRC, Labra believed that the members of the two subgroups are now united with Cardoza and Imperial as leaders.

Meanwhile, Labra said he would look into the possible lapses that might have been committed by the Fuente Police since the robbery occurred just meters away from their station.

Fuente Police Chief Jonathan Abella admitted he did not expect a robbery would be pulled off because it was a Sunday and it was "mingaw." - Ryan P. Borinaga