Charges filed vs. eight people for "P6.2 M jewelry heist"

CEBU, Philippines - Eight people have been charged with robbery over the botched P6.2 million heist last Tuesday.

Charged were the four men arrested after the robbery and four others including a lawyer.

Charges of robbery were filed against Noel “Jack-Jack” Salig Davis of Davao City, Kirby Abanilla of Pasil, Frederick Ybañez of Ozamis City, and Jeromy Polistico of Misamis Occidental. The four were arrested after they tried to flee with the pieces jewelry taken from Jennifer de la Cerna.

Also charged are JunJun Gumanay, who has been tagged as the fifth member of the group, who escaped arrest as he was on board a motorcycle, and their alleged leader Roy Quimada.

Jennifer Enriquez, who dealt with the jewelry dealer and was the one who returned the items to her shortly before the heist, was also charged.

Charges have also been filed against lawyer Louie Arma, who was tagged by the suspects as one of those who hatched the plan. He will be subpoenaed today.

Ybañez was the one who tagged Enriquez and the lawyer as among those who met last weekend in Banawa to discuss the plans for the robbery.

He alleged that it was Enriquez, who gave them information about the jewelry that she was returning to de la Cerna.

Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu City Police Office Director, said that Enriquez was included as a principal suspect because the police have established her participation in the crime.

He said that their bases in tagging Enriquez as a principal suspect are the accounts of two witnesses –Ybañez and another person. The witnesses testified on her direct involvement in the planning of the robbery.

Although Ybañez admitted involvement in several major robberies in Cebu City, Comendador said that Enriquez was only involved in the latest incident.

They will also verify reports that the getaway vehicle was seen parked near the residence of Enriquez days before the heist.

 Comendador also did not comment on the allegations that the suspects were beaten during tactical interrogation but he said that the suspects can file a complaint against the police if the allegations are true.

The CCPO Director also said that they will provide security to de la Cerna who now fears for her life, though she will still allegedly go on with her business as a jewelry dealer.

The Highway Patrol Group from Manila is now coordinating with the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of CCPO to check the suspects, who are also believed to be involved in similar incidents in the National Capital Region.

He also said that even the Negros Oriental and Bohol police asked for the copy of the tactical interrogation conducted on the suspects for the same purpose of checking if they have a record in their area of responsibility.

Supt. Pablo Labra II, chief of Investigation and Detection Management Group, said that they will still study if Ybañez could serve as a state witness.

Right now, they are still evaluating the allegations of Ybañez to check its veracity including the alleged involvement of Atty. Arma. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)