One of suspects who robbed jewelry store falls, charged

CEBU - The police now consider the robbery at Golden Treasures Best of Jewelry located at Mango Square Mall last week as solved following the arrest and filing of a case against one of the seven suspects.

Cebu City Police Office chief Patrocinio Comendador said that a case for robbery has been filed yesterday against Isidro Manlangit Sr. after he was positively identified by one of the witnesses as among those who robbed the jewelry store.

Comendador said Manlangit was arrested during a hot pursuit operation, adding that since the establishment was robbed last week, they did not stop the operation against the suspects especially upon learning that Manlangit is still in the province.

Police are looking into the possibility that Manlangit served as the local contact of the robbers who are operating here in Cebu.

Theft and Robbery Section led by Michael Anthony Bastes conducted a joint operation together with the elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics and the Investigation Management Division that led to the arrest of Manlangit at around 3:30 p.m. last Tuesday at Cabantan Street, Barangay Luz.

Bastes said that a case for robbery was already filed against the suspect yesterday after the owner of the jewelry store and a witness signed the affidavit.

He said their evidences against Manlangit are strong based on the positive identification of a witness who reportedly heard the suspect told the customers of the nearby restaurant to lie down.

The TRS chief further said that the arrest was conducted still under hot pursuit operation, so they are ready to face the questions that would be raised by Atty. Chauncey Boholst, the lawyer of Manlangit. Bastes said their investigation was very specific.

But in an interview with reporters yesterday, Manlangit strongly denied the accusations against him and challenged the witness to verify and pinpoint the exact suspect because he believed that the witness was wrong in identifying him.

Manlangit said he pitied his children, his wife, and her 80-year-old mother who were greatly affected when they learned about his alleged involvement in the crime.He said that he could not possibly be involved in the robbery because he has just received his salary from East Asia Utilities Corporation where he allegedly works as a power plant technician.

The suspect however admitted that he was once “picked up” by the elements of the National Bureau of Investigation in 2006 at his residence in Pulang Bukid, barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City. —Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)