5 dead, 4 hurt in foiled heist

CEBU, Philippines - Five people died and four others were hurt in a botched mid-morning robbery near Fuente Osmeña yesterday.

Three of the dead were suspected robbers while the two others were guards assigned to secure an armored car delivering cash to a client. Those hurt were two policemen, a bank employee, and one of the suspects.

At around 9:30 a.m. robbers hit a roving bank teller, who was about to deliver P1.2 million to a money changer based inside a mall.

The robbers, according to a witness, approached teller Lewin Surig inside the food court and shot him on the left leg. 

His security escort Lito Udag, who tried to retaliate was shot by another robber.

Security guard Leofer Etac, who was waiting at the armored car outside of the mall, tried to check on the commotion inside when another man, who apparently served as lookout, wrestled him and took hit shotgun away.

A man who watches cars outside the mall said, “Naglinayugay sila unya nailog sa tulisan ang shotgun gi-cock pa gani niya una siya gipusil,” he said.

While the lookout was about to shoot Etac using the shotgun, the guard managed to hit back forcing the robber to pull out a caliber .45 pistol and shot at the guard before meeting up with the others on board his motorcycle.

The two men, who took the bag containing the cash, rushed out of the mall where another accomplice was also waiting on board a motorcycle.

While they were about to flee, they spotted PO1 Jay Catacutan, who was passing by the establishment, and shot him.

Catacutan was hit on the left side of his breast.

While this was happening, a patrol car from the Mobile Patrol Group also passed by the area on its way to the Palace of Justice.

PO1 Roy Ceniza, who saw the commotion, went down of the vehicle and before he could fire his gun, the robbers also shot him.

Ceniza was hit on the leg, but managed to return fire hitting one of the robbers.

PO1 Ernesto Silva, who was driving the patrol car, immediately radioed for back up.

The four men, who split up into two fled towards Ramos St. and Gen. Maxilom Ave.

Pursuing policemen caught up with the robbers at Ranudo St. and fired at them killing both men on the spot.

One of the fatalities was identified as Mario Dapitan. As of presstime, the police were yet to ascertain the identity of the other fatality.

The two other robbers were spotted by police at Alcohol St. and were shot at. Antonio Adillar was hit and fell off the motorcycle while the other fled the scene.

Adillar was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) where he was declared dead on arrival due to multiple gunshot wounds.

The suspect, who managed to flee, was later identified as Jun-jun Cabando, who reportedly took a taxi to Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

 The police were able to locate Cabando’s hideout where they found bloodied clothes, which they believed were the ones he wore during the robbery.

The two guards worked for Puritan Industrial Security Agency. Udag was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital where he died almost four hours later.

He had two gunshot wounds on his torso.

The teller was also rushed to the same hospital but is not in any danger.

Quick response

The Cebu City Police Office SWAT and other units were the ones that immediately responded to the alarm.

Sr. Insp. Arnel Banzon, SWAT chief, said that they responded following the radio message from Ceniza and Silva.

“Nadungog namo sa radio nga naigo si Catacutan. Unya ang mga suspect on board a motorcycle from Fuente area to Mango (Maxilom) hangtod nga naggukdanay na,” Banzon told The FREEMAN.

Investigators recovered two .45 pistols as well as the bag containing the cash from the suspects, who were killed at Ranudo St.

Also recovered near Fuente Osmeña were 12 empty caliber .45 shells and three others which were inside the mall. The police also recovered an unspent shotgun ammunition and Etac’s shotgun, which still had three live ammunition.

A magazine loaded with six live caliber .45 ammunition, believed to be owned by the robbers, was also recovered.

Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, director of the Cebu City Police Office, said, Pagtawag nila sa radio, mi-responde tanan nato nga mga units. Pati kami mi-dagan sa scene of engagement mao nga na-apsan ang mi-eskapo.”

He commended the first team to respond for their bravery and would recommend awards for them.

“Dako kaayo ni siya nga dugang nga moral sa atong mga tawo bisag delikado ang pagserbisyo. Pero ang enthusiasm sa atong kapolisan naa sige kay ang atong mayor nag suporta,” he said. 

Buenafe said that the suspects are members of the Ozamis Robbery Group.

Warning

Buenafe warned those who plan to stage similar crimes in Cebu City that the police force is ready for them.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch, told The FREEMAN they received prior information about a possible robbery in Cebu.

“Amo na ni gi-disseminate last month pa, naka submit nami og reports sa lower units ani nila. Wala ta nag kulang, naa na tanan mga detalye nga gipanghatag na namo,” he said. 

Investigators recovered from the suspects several money transfer receipts from Ozamis City.

China Bank, through their legal counsel Esteban Pascua, said that they are very willing to cooperate with the police investigation. He said that they will review their operations following the incident.

Commendation

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama commended the police.

He said, the police have displayed exceptionally what they have taken an oath to do — to protect and serve the Cebuano people.

Rama said that the successful police operation serves as a warning for other criminal groups that Cebu City is serious in its anti-crime efforts.

“Do not try us, do not take our police men for granted because they are always their,” he said.

The mayor has also promised to help the family members of the security guards and wounded.

“The city will always be there to encourage all our fellow men – our police men especially when they are doing it in line of duty,” he said.

“All policemen should always be aware that they have a mayor that considers them as a member of a family,” he said.

Family left behind

Etac, who was from UCMA Village in Barangay Apas has left behind a wife and children aged 8, 3, and 2 years old.

Udag was also married, but there were not additional details about his family.

Etac’s wife was able to rush to the scene with one of her children after she was informed be her mother-in-law in Bohol to check the report that her husband was one of those killed in the robbery.

Security lapses?

Chief Insp. Bonifacio Garciano, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of CCPO, said that the guards of the mall scampered when the heist took place.

Garciano told The FREEMAN that there could be lapses on the part of the security guards, because the two armed men were able to get inside undetected.

“Way strict implementation sa security kay nganong nakasulod man ang dunay armas,” he said.

Garciano said that one of the guards, who he talked to said that he was not able to respond to the robbery as he was still changing into his uniform when the incident happened. Garciano said he will be submitting his recommendations to Supt. Rex Derilo, chief of the Firearms Explosives Security Service and Guards Supervisory.

In a separate interview, Derilo said that he will be asking for an investigation report from Puritan Industrial Security Agency for evaluation.

Possible recommendations will be discussed by between the mall’s management, the FESSAGS and the CCPO. —/NLQ