Charges filed against jewelry store robbers

CEBU - A case for robbery was filed yesterday against the three men identified to be the ones who barged into a jewelry store on Mango Square along Gen. Maxilom Avenue last Tuesday afternoon.

According to Sr. Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office, three witnesses helped the police in identifying Danny Masecampo, a native of Davao, estimated to be above 40 years old; Isidro Manlangit Sr., over 40, from Ozamiz City; and Alicando Calong, above 30, also from Ozamiz City as three of seven men who robbed Golden Treasures-Best of Jewelry.

Police later on confirmed that the men were of an Ozamiz-based group.

The identification was strengthened when Rudolph Anthony Ramos, security guard of the jewelry store, identified Masecampo as the one who choked him, then first to enter the store carrying a .45 caliber firearm.

Ramos identified Manlangit as the one who intimidated customers of a diner in front of the jewelry store. He said that the suspect aimed his gun at the customers to scare them.

Rafael Garcia, security guard at the ground floor, identified Calong as the one onboard the Nissan Sentra used as a getaway car. Garcia said Calong fired at him with a baby Armalite, but missed.

Cebu City Police Office director, Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Jr. said that they cannot determine yet if the suspects in Tuesday’s heist and those behind the May robbery belong to the same robbery group, though they have the same modus operandi.

Comendador said that a pattern was noticed — the use of long firearms, robbers without masks or bonnets, the smashing of display glass cases, and the boarding of a car which is abandoned after.

It was found out that the getaway car was registered in Cagayan de Oro City, with the owner yet to be identified. Police are still verifying if the vehicle was carnapped or bought by the suspects.

Comendador said that prior to the incident, they received a report of suspicious persons who checked in a lodging house in barangay Duljo-Fatima last November 27 and left the said building Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Comendador directed his men not to argue with jewelry store owner Albert Young after the latter lamented on police’s alleged failure to immediately take the call for assistance through Hotline 166.

Comendador explained that there was a problem with the connection at the City Hall. He called 166 before the media to show that the problem of the line was already dealt with.

The CCPO director said that store owners especially large establishments should work in tandem with the police, employ security guards, and put up close-circuit television cameras.

“We will not go into any argument. The fact is that we were there,” Comendador said. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)