PUJ passengers robbed; one of suspects arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Four robbers carrying a hand grenade, a gun and an ice pick robbed four passengers of a jeepney along Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City around 10 a.m. yesterday.

One of the robbers was arrested in his residence in sitio Tuburan, barangay Punta Princesa while the three were able to elude arrest. Edwin Flores, 36, admitted that he was recently released from Cebu City Jail for a robbery case.

 According to SPO1 Alejandro Batobalonos of Punta Princesa Police Station, Flores identified his cohort as Mario Dico alias “Ariong” of sitio Tuburan, and Arman Bucog and a certain Eduard of Liloan town.

Batobalonos told The FREEMAN that the robbers rode a public utility jeepney plying Colon-Pardo route and announced the holdup later.

The suspects fled immediately but personnel of Mobile Patrol Group onboard a patrol car happened to pass by, prompting one of the victims to seek for assistance.

The victim, 18-year-old Simplicio Mantilla III, said that one of the robbers aimed an ice pick at him and took his silver necklace and silver bracelet worth P1,500 and P600, respectively.

The police then conducted a hot pursuit operation against the suspects who were monitored heading towards sitio Tambisan, barangay Labangon.

Batobalonos said Flores was cornered and arrested inside his house. A gold necklace and an ice pick were recovered from his possession.

Flores told the police that he took a gold necklace and a cellular phone from a woman passenger while his companions took some items from the rest of the PUJ passengers.

A hand grenade was later recovered by the MPG personnel inside an abandoned hut in barangay Labangon.

Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said he would direct the Theft and Robbery Section to have the fleeing suspects identified through the rouge’s gallery.

 A robbery charge will be filed against Flores today. — Niña G. Sumacot/LPM (THE FREEMAN)