Raps filed vs. suspect in cook's rob-slay

CEBU, Philippines - Police have already filed charges against one of the three suspects in the robbery that left one man dead and his brother injured at corner Arlington Pond and Lim Tian Teng streets in barangay Santa Cruz last Tuesday.

Godofredo Pardillo, 19, who was picked-up by operatives of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office past 6 p.m. Tuesday has been charged with two counts of robbery with homicide before the Regional Trial Court yesterday for robbing and shooting brothers Vedasto and Herbert Cursiga.

No bail has been recommended.

The two brothers worked in a Korean restaurant along F. Ramos Street, Vedasto as a cook while Herbert as a waiter. They were walking on their way home to Junquera St. after eating barbecue at Fuente Osmeña at around 4 a.m. when Pardillo, along with two other companions he later identified as Fritz Alferez and a certain “Budok” men held them up at gunpoint.

Vedasto tried to grab the .22 cal. revolver from the robber, while grappling, the gun went off twice, hitting the two brothers.

Vedasto succumbed to a gunshot wound in the chest at the Velez Hospital while Herbert was wounded in the groin.

Pardillo was later identified by Herbert as the one who searched their pockets and took their valuables and also the one his elder brother struggled with. 

Pardillo has denied any involvement in the robbery, but later identified his accomplices and Alferez and Budok, both residents of barangay Sambag II.

The Cebu City Police Office has furnished a cartographic sketch of Fritz and Budok. Alferez was described as 22 years old, standing 5’5” tall, fair-skinned, with short hair, thick eyebrows and sharp-looking eyes.

Budok was said to be at least 20 years old, 5’4” tall, chubby, white-skinned, with a flat-top haircut and sideburns. Those who know where the suspects are hiding can call up 166 or report to the nearest police precinct. 

City police chief Patrocinio Comendador said the suspects are gang members with previous involvement in robbery incidents. They have yet to check if the suspects have been jailed. — Jasmin R. Uy and Niña G. Sumacot/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)