Cabando escaped by boat from Talisay

CEBU, Philippines - The lone escapee of Monday’s foiled robbery; Dionisio “Junjun” Cabando, has evaded the pursuing police by renting a small boat in Talisay City last Wednesday.

Contrary to earlier reports that Cabando went north to escape the police, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Intelligence Branch Chief Sr. Insp. Romeo Santander told The FREEMAN that Cabando escaped Cebu on board a rented pumpboat in Barangay Tangke, Talisay two days after the heist.

Santander said they received reports that the fugitive was already pail and weak when he and her live-in partner, Merlyn Laguitao, boarded a 30-seater pumpboat.

Cabando had a gunshot wound on his buttocks from the shootout along Alcohol Street, Cebu City where his companion fell and later died. Santander is not certain whether there were other people with Cabando and Merlyn, who paid P15,000 for the boat.

The intelligence chief refused to disclose more information to prevent jeopardizing their search. They got the recent information on Cabando through the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER).

Cabando is believed to be the leader of a robbery group which killed two guards and hurt a bank teller and two police men on Monday’s botched robbery of an armored

van inside a mall along Fuente Osmeña.

Cabando fled to Mandaue City where he sought help from Laguitao who later asked her relative, Anne Marie, a nursing graduate, to help Cabando.

After Cabando was given medical aid, he and Merlyn fled and were reportedly spotted somewhere in the northern part of Cebu.

CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe is urging their counterparts in Ozamis City to take the initiative in apprehending Cabando and Merlyn.

On Friday, the remains of Mario Dapitan, Antonio Adelan and Nelson Magsanay, who was earlier known as Melenio Quiapo, were all retrieved by their relatives who arrived in Cebu from Ozamis City. Their bodies are scheduled to arrive in Ozamis City today. — /JPM (FREEMAN)