Koreans laud speedy resolution of robbery

The Korean community in Cebu lauded the Cebu City Police Office for the fast solution of the shooting and robbery of their compatriot last Saturday.

Charlie Shin, general manager of the United Korean Community Association Inc., went to the office of city police director Patrocinio Comendador yesterday to personally thank him for a job well done.

In just a few days the police arrested the suspects who robbed and shot Young Seuk Jeon in barangay Banilad.

The police yesterday filed a case for robbery with frustrated homicide against Adrian Lim, Ramil Pelicano Inot and Jonmie Merino following their arrest last Wednesday evening.

Lim and Inot were arrested in separate operations during the last hours of Valentine's Day. A follow-up operation resulted to the arrest of Merino, who kept the gun used in shooting Young, the following day.

Lim and Merino signed a waiver of detention to avail of a preliminary investigation. Assistant city prosecutor Alex Gapud however filed the case information against Inot after he refused to sign a waiver of detention upon the advice of the Public Attorney's Office, which represents him.

When PAO questioned the legality of Inot's arrest Gapud said it was legal because he was arrested during a hot pursuit operation.

The hot pursuit operation was anchored on the testimony of the eyewitness, Efren Heyrosa, who happened to pass by the crime scene during the incident.

Young and fellow Korean friend Soon Oh were on their way home from a convenience store when the suspects blocked their way. Inot asked for their bags but instead of acceding to the demand the two ran away in fright.

Inot reportedly shot Young at the back with the bullet exiting out of her abdomen. He then took the bag of Young before going back to the waiting motorcycle driven by Lim and escaped.

Heyrosa managed to take note of the plate number of the motorcycle and reported it to Talamban police station. Young was rushed by Soon to a hospital where she is still recuperating.

Shin told reporters that he was surprised by the quick response of the city police saying it is the first time a crime involving a Korean in Metro Cebu was solved in just a few days.

For this accomplishment, Shin told reporters that they will give commendations to the city police as well as a surprise token.

Shin added that they have released advisories to their citizens visiting Cebu and asked the police to continue their vigilance in securing the city against criminal elements.

Meanwhile, suspects Lim and Inot are looking at another theft charge after a couple came to the Cebu City Police Office and positively identified them as the ones who robbed them last February 12.

Alfred Guido and his wife Lorna, of Labogon, Mandaue City, identified Lim and Inot, alias "Bolantoy", as the ones who grabbed the bag of Lorna after they disembarked from their car along A.S. Fortuna Avenue in Bakilid, Mandaue City, to buy some construction materials.

Lorna said she was about to close the backseat door of their car when a motorcycle suddenly stopped beside her and the passenger grabbed her bag and fled. The bag contained P88,000 cash and two cellular phones, important documents and IDs.

The two suspects denied the allegations claiming they were somewhere else when the snatching took place.



Meanwhile, the city police director will be investigating the Talamban police station for failing to immediately relay the information given by the witness who saw the incident.

"It could have been solved faster if wala pa ma-delayed ang paghatod dinhi sa information about sa plate number," Comendador said upon learning of the plate number of the motorcycle in the afternoon of the next day.

Comendador said he has received numerous complaints about policemen who make complainants or people seeking their help wait before they take action. - Fred P. Languido and Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP