Tanods corner robber but two others escape

CEBU - Barangay tanods of Pahina Central arrested the other night one of the three men accused of robbing three students who just left from a group study inside an internet café along Climaco St., Pahina Central, Cebu City.

Pahina Central councilman Sonny Gonzales, who heads the peace and order committee in the said barangay, identified the suspect as Opiel Torion, 20, of sitio Belgium, barangay Pasil.

 His two accomplices who were able to escape were identified as Warly Laborte and Leonardo Fernandez, both his neighbors in Pasil. 

Fernandez was recently released from the Cebu City Jail for a theft case.

The complainants, Jonalyn Acruz, Jocelyn Acruz and Shanly Lapena, all residents of barangay Pasil, positively identified Torion as the man who threatened them with an ice pick while they were leaving the Compulex Internet café.

Gonzales said the barangay tanods recovered from the possession of Torion the 11-inch ice pick and a cellular phone. Laborte and Fernandez allegedly escaped with the rest of the loot.

 “Pag dunay commotion nakabantay dayon ang atong mga tanods mao nga gigukod dayon ug didto na naabtan nila dapit sa barangay hall sa Pahina San Nicolas mao to nga na-trap ang usa pero nakaeskapo ang duha,” Gonzales said.

 “Nangurog gyud mi sir kay gitionan gyud ang akong liog maong gihatag na lang namo ang cellphone,” Lapena said.

 Gonzales said they are filing a robbery complaint before Cebu City Prosecutor’s office against Torion and his accomplices. – Ramil V. Ayuman/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)