Police identify Toledo area robbers

CEBU, Philippines - The police have identified some members of a robbery group responsible for the series of robberies in Cebu’s northwest and midwest areas, said Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador.

However, Comendador refused to divulge the names of the suspects in order not to jeopardize their operation.

“Dili lang nako i-detalye kay mahibaw-an unya maalkansi among operation,” he said.

Four of the group’s members who were earlier arrested by police in Naga City revealed some information of their companions to the authorities.

The arrested suspects are believed to be among those who are victimizing sales agents of softdrink companies in the northwest and midwest areas of the province.

Rommel Adaro, 21, of Zamboanga del Norte; Jordan Bariuit, 21, of Naga City; Jomar Placencia, 21 of Daanbantayan town, and Joseph Lawas, 33, of Danao City were arrested by the Toledo City police after their cohort, Edward Abao, 24, of Misamis Oriental, guided the law enforcers.

Their arrest also led to the recovery of assorted firearms believed to have been used in their operations.

Police believed that those arrested have ties to two to three groups in Cebu.

Personnel from Special Reactions Unit and members from the newly created Northwest Anti-Robbery Task Force headed by Superintendent Teofilo Siclot have been assisting the Toledo City police in dealing with the robbery group.

Meanwhile, two unidentified robbers carted away P13,000 from a sales agent of Pepsi Cola in Barangay Ilihan, Toledo City Tuesday afternoon.

 Police said 33-year-old Joseph Reponte, of barangay Tuba, Dalaguete, was unloading stocks of softdrinks in a retail outlet when the robbers arrived on board a motorcycle.

Reponte alleged that the robbers opened the driver seat of the vehicle and pulled out a .45 pistol. At gunpoint, the robbers took the victim’s money.

The robbers, who both wore jackets and close-type helmets, fled towards Barangay Magdugo on board their Honda XRM with no plate number.

Based on the police record, the robbery was the eighth incident in the northwest area.

Siclot, also the deputy provincial director for operations, said they are heightening security in Toledo City as the booming city has become a favorite target for robbers. — (FREEMAN)