Five robbery suspects fall in Consolacion

Five armed men who were suspected to be involved in the series of highway robberies in Cebu were arrested Wednesday night by the joint elements of the Cebu City Police Office and the Consolacion Police Station in barangay Danglag, Consolacion town.

The police team led by Sr./Insp. Alexis Relado went to barangay Danglag Wednesday night to verify reports of the presence of Renato Hermosilla, who has a pending warrant for his arrest for his alleged involvement in the series of robberies in Cebu City.

But the team failed to nab Hermosilla and instead ended up arresting the five suspected robbers identified as Roland Paglinawan, 24, Rogelio Paglinawan Sr., 49, his two sons Rogelio Jr., 37, and Allan, 24, and Jaime Sta. Ana, 37, of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

Roland was just released last October 3 from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, where he was detained for frustrated murder.

The five were arrested after being spotted by the police team with firearms tucked in their waists while outside the house of Paglinawan Sr.

Upon seeing the policemen, the suspects even attempted to flee and pointed their firearms to the police operatives. Of the suspects, only one identified as a certain Samson was able to flee.

The police were then able to seize five .38 caliber firearms and 24 live ammunitions from the suspects, who were presented to the media yesterday morning.

Based on the evidence gathered by the police, the group was linked to the series of robberies in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, and other parts of the province.

The police also said the suspects could have links to Hermosilla, who is a frequent visitor to barangay Danglag.

Acting Cebu City police director Patrocinio Comendador said before the Sinulog, the suspects were already being monitored in the area for their suspicious activities. Their neighbors would see them having drinks and riding taxicabs despite their being jobless.

Comendador said although they still cannot link the group to major robbery incidents in the city, they are now in the process of obtaining some evidence against the suspects.

Comendador stressed that he wanted all criminal elements out of the city. "We want to tell them we are fighting back. We are putting pressures on them. We are transferring the pressure as we want them to feel the heat," he said. - Flor P. Perolina/ LPM