Fratman, friends nabbed for bladed instruments

A member of the Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity was arrested yesterday with two other companions at a checkpoint along Andres Soriano Street by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch for reportedly carrying improvised knives.

Presented yesterday by CIIB head, Senior Insp. George Ylanan, and Cebu City Police Office director Supt. Patrocinio Comendador were Melvin Roble, 27, of barangay T. Padilla; Sonny Boy de la Cuesta, 27 of Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City; and Robert Mancao, 28 of sitio Tumoy, Pahina Central, Cebu City.

Ylanan said that the three of them were presumed to be on their way to commit robbery since two improvised knives and an ice pick were found in their possession.

He said Roble, who is confirmed to be an Akrho member, picks up friends from Lapu-Lapu City to act as his cohorts in robbing jeepneys.

Theft and Robbery head Senior Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes said Roble is already considered as notorious since his derogatory records date back to 1995.

He had around 10 cases wherein victims had positively identified him as the culprit.

Meanwhile, de la Cuesta is found to be a member of Crips Gang and was released from prison last June for homicide while Mancao was also released February this year for illegal drugs.

When interviewed, Roble said that all the allegations hurled against him are not true.

He said he had been a snatcher in the past years but had never mounted any jeepney robbery. He claimed to have been peacefully working as a construction worker in Lapu-Lapu since his release from prison recently.

Comendador urged all victims of Roble and his group to come forward for the filing of appropriate charges. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV