Robber shot, arrested in Guadalupe

CEBU, Philippines – Two robbers were arrested following a brief chase with the barangay tanods and police in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City dawn yesterday.

One of the suspects, Rey Sta. Ana, of Andres Abellana Ext., was taken to the hospital after he was shot to the hand. It was not yet known who among the tanods and responding police officer shot the suspect, who was arrested along with Danolo Catamora, 26, a resident of Andres Abellana St.

Their third companion, a certain Harry Yungco was able to elude arrest.

Police said at around 1 a.m., barangay tanods Dionisio Taboada, Logorio Labra, and Roldan Caballes were on board a vehicle on their way to respond to an anti-noise alarm. Upon reaching the corner L. Bacayo and Emilio Osmeña Streets, they saw teenagers Sheila Mae Diaz, 17, of Anders Abellana St. and Kenneth Taborada, 16, of Singson Road, shouting for help as they were robbed by the suspects.

Taken from Diaz was a Nokia cellular phone worth P2,500 and from Taborada was a wallet containing P300.

This prompted the tanods to respond and chase after the motorcycle-riding suspects. However, when their vehicle was already beside the suspect's motorcycle, one of the suspects, who was later identified as Santa Ana, allegedly fired at the authorities but missed.

In the process, all the tanods quickly jumped off from their car to avoid being hurt.   Taboada arrested Catamora while the suspect was about to flee.

Labra and Caballes who was already with SPO1 Bonite chased the two other suspects who ran towards the nearby interior area. After a few minutes, Santa Ana was located on his motorcycle.

During an interrogation, Santa Ana revealed that he just threw his firearm to the nearby grassy area and when tanods let him locate it, he picked it a .38 caliber revolver with two live bullets and handed the weapon to the authorities. He was then taken to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment of the gunshot wound on his hand.

SPO1 Teodoro Lumanasof Guadalupe Police said that it is not yet known who among the responding authorities shot and hit Santa Ana as other policemen had gradually responded to the incident.

Catamora is now detained while the motorcycle (YO-8002) that the suspects used in the robbery is now in the custody of the police. (THE FREEMAN)