CEBU, Philippines - It did not take long for the killers to get to a robbery suspect, who only had moments of temporary freedom before he was gunned down using a hail of bullets just outside the Cebu City Jail.
Jeromy Polistico, one of the suspects in the P7.2 million foiled jewelry heist, just got out of jail after posting a P40,000 bail when he was killed while eating at a bakery just outside the jail facility in barangay Kalunasan.
A witness said that there were four assailants on board two motorcycles, who peppered the 34-year-old Polistico, a native of Clarin, Misamis Occidental, killing him instantly.
Jail warden, Supt. Efren Nemeño, said that Polistico was released at 12:50 p.m. yesterday.
Bail for the fatality’s temporary liberty was first set at P100,000 but the judge agreed to the plea of the defendant to reduce the bail to P40,000.
Initial reports from the crime scene said that the victim was hit several times on his head and various parts of the body.
While the killing may have followed the way of several vigilante-style executions, the use of several rounds of ammunition does not follow the usual modus operandi.
According to a witness, he was sitting alone at a waiting shed just beside the city jail’s gate, when he saw the Polistico running towards the direction of the gate, while two men were pursuing the victim.
He allegedly first saw the victim and his lawyer, later identified as Jesus Feliciano, a retired fiscal, come out of the city jail around 12:50 p.m.
The witness, who was waiting for the gate to open to visit his son in prison, allegedly overheard the lawyer telling the victim that they will first eat at a bakery located few meters away.
The two then walked towards the bakery and then the witness said that he saw two men park their motorcycle outside the bakery then fired shots at Polistico.
The lawyer sought cover while Polistico tried to run back to the jail asking that the gate be opened.
The witness said he heard the victim shouting “Abli! Abli!” while frantically knocking on the gate.
Polistico died before the gate could be opened.
The witness further alleged that while the two men were chasing the victim towards the gate, another two motorcycle-riding men came from the direction of Beverly Hills Street and also shot the victim several times at close range.
The witness added that he even came face-to-face with one assailant forcing him to say “Wa koy labot ani sir” (I don’t have anything to do with this sir).
The assailant allegedly told the witness, “Wa kay labot.”
He alleged that the assailants were not wearing bonnets, but there was one or two who wore helmets, but he’s still too scared to remember.
Feliciano, the lawyer said that he heard one of the assailants shout “Hapa ang way labot” and he immediately took cover.
Feliciano, who was still visibly shaken while talking to his former colleagues at the City Prosecutor’s Office, said that all he heard were gunfire and when it cleared, he saw the lifeless body of his client.
Police have so far recovered ten empty shells of caliber .45 and seven for 9 mm from the crime scene.
Nemeño said the BJMP is no longer liable for the death of Polistico as the latter was already released from the jail and that the incident took place outside the city jail premises.
He said that the security inside the jail is their priority and that their personnel are not detailed outside the gate.
He however said that upon hearing the several burst of gunfire, they immediately activated their Camp Defense Plan.
Nemeño said that the assailants probably had information about the release of the victim.
He said that he would check the inmates if somebody might have a cellular phone, which was used to tip the killers about the release of Polistico.
The jail warden said that they often find cellular phones, which are not allowed in jail, in the hands of inmates during inspections.
Polistico was arrested along with Noel Davis, 44, of Panabo, Davao City; Frederick Ybañez, 38, of Ozamiz City; and Kirby Abanilla, 25, of barangay Pasil, Cebu City when they robbed Jennifer de la Cerna of several pieces of jewelry amounting to P7.2 million last July 21 at F. Llamas St. corner N. Bacalso Avenue.
They were arrested when their get away vehicle was caught in a traffic jam.
Jennifer Enriquez, who was with de la Cerna prior to the heist, was later arrested also for allegedly participating in the crime, but was the first to post bail.
The three other suspects are yet to post bail.
On August 18, the suspects in the robbery will be arraigned before the sala of RTC Branch 9 Judge Geraldine Faith Econg. — with Jasmin Uy/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)