2 suspects in LBC rob nabbed

CEBU, Philippines – Two men believed to be responsible in the robbery-slay of an employee of LBC in Mandaue City Monday morning were arrested yesterday in Basak-Pardo, Cebu City.

The two were arrested by elements of the Mandaue City Police Office Theft and Robbery Section.

Police Inspector Gregorio Aninon, chief of the TRS Division of the Mandaue City Police identified the suspects as Jhunmar Isales, 19, and Steve Go, 31, both temporarily residing in barangay Basak-Pardo, Cebu City.

Aninon said Go was positively identified by their witness, who was standing outside the LBC Express branch in MC Briones St., Guizo, Mandaue City when the heist took place.

Isales, on the other hand, was also positively identified by the same witness as the man, who went outside the courier firm’s office and rode the motorcycle driven by Go.

The two other look outs reportedly fled towards barangay Maguikay.

Killed in that heist was Eugenio Agmata, 49 years old, married, of barangay Cabancalan, Mandaue City. He worked as customer assistance staff of the LBC Express branch.

Aninon said that Go and Isales used to live in barangay Jagobiao before they transferred to Basak-Pardo.

According to Aninon, they are now asking Agmata’s co-worker Trixia Montero to sign an affidavit so support the filling of charges against the two suspects.

They are also working on getting the identities of the two who remain at large.

Montero said that she was pushed by the robber to the stockroom of their office and she even managed to tell Agmata not to resist and just hand the money.

Agmata, who was counting bills when the robbery took place, apparently hesitated to give the money and was shot by the robber.

Montero said that she heard shots fired while she was in the stockroom.

The victim sustained a gunshot wound on the right side of his chest and died on the spot.

The robbers were only able to take P2,000 cash from the courier firm.

It’s not the first incident of robbery involving a branch of the courier company.

In November last year, the LBC branch located inside a mall in the Banilad, Cebu City area was also robbed by four men.

The four robbers carted away P80,000 in cash and three cellphones worth P11,000.

In February 7, 2009, the LBC branch in Minglanilla town also robbed by three men. The robbers ran off with around P14,000 cash. - /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)