Cops nab robbery suspect

A man who robbed two cellular phone shop employees in Compostela town last Saturday night was arrested in a hot pursuit operation in barangay Looc, Danao City, last Sunday morning while playing mahjong.

Cherie Ann Gocotano, 19 and her co-worker, a 15-year-old boy, positively identified Santos Quiros, 41, married, a resident of barangay Maslog, Danao City, as the one who robbed them in sitio Tagkasan, barangay Canamucan, Compostela town.

The incident happened while the victims were riding a motorcycle-for-hire, driven by Joseph Vasquez, on their way home from the phone shop in Poblacion, Compostela.

SPO2 Pedro Enriquez, yesterday told The Freeman that upon reaching the said place the suspect stopped them, pointed a knife at them and took their cellular phones and cash money amounting to P3,532 believed to be from the store's sales.

The suspect then ordered both victims to disembark from the motorcycle, got on it and ordered the driver at knifepoint to speed off. The victims reported to the police station regarding the incident.

Compostela policemen led by SPO1 Enrique Los Baños immediately conducted a hot pursuit.

Enriquez said that the motorcycle driver went to their station Sunday morning and told them that the suspect ordered him to take him to Maslog, Danao City. The policemen immediately went to the said place with him and the Citizen Anti Crime Organization members.

The police said that the suspect was arrested while playing mahjong at a house near the boundary of barangay Looc, three kilometers away from his house.

The suspect was positively identified by the victims and later admitted to the crime, saying he did it after he had an argument with his wife.

The suspect is now detained at the Compostela police station, charges were filed against him yesterday, Enriquez said. - Norvie S. Misa