Cabando, 5 cohorts to face raps

CEBU, Philippines - Criminal charges are set to be filed this week against the lone escapee of the botched robbery on September 5, Junjun Cabando, along with his live-in partner and five other cohorts.

Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said Cabando will face charges for robbery with homicide and a separate case of frustrated murder along with two women and three other unidentified men.

The case of frustrated murder will be filed against Cabando by PO1 Elrich Ca-tacutan and PO1 Roy Ceniza who were wounded after a confrontation with the escaping robbers.

Cabando’s live-in partner, Merlyn Laguitao and her relative Maricel Magadan will also be charged for being an accessory to the crime by assisting Cabando in his escape.

To recall, Magadan gave Cabando first aid after he was shot on the buttocks after successfully escaping responding policemen who gave chase after the foiled heist. 

Aside from Magadan and Laguitao, Buenafe said they are including three unidentified men who allegedly escaped along with Cabando from the crime scene and were believed to have assisted him in leaving Cebu via Talisay.

The three fishermen however, who aided Cabando’s escape from Barangay Tangke Talisay City, Cebu, to Panglao, Bohol days after the botched robbery will not be charged.

Marino Ochea, the owner of the pumpboat, his nephew, Luisito Ochea, and Antonio Balingit are now considered state witnesses by the police.

Cabando who is also known as Dionisio Cabati-ngan is considered by the police as the leader of the Quiapo Cabando robbery group who tried to rob a teller inside a mall along the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda.

His three cohorts were killed by pursuing police when they tried to escape with P1.2 million pesos cash which was supposed to be delivered to a money changer within the said mall.

Though wounded, Cabando managed to escape the police through Merlyn’s assistance.

Following their regional search for Cabando and Merlyn, the police failed to apprehend him after he was reported to have several contacts in Cebu.

The police have also discovered that the Quiapo Cabando robbery group is a breakaway group of the dreaded Kuratong Baleleng Gang of Ozamis City.

Yesterday, 10 members of the CCPO SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) who responded to the botched robbery received Medals of Merit for their participation and bravery in killing three of Cabando’s men. - (THE FREEMAN)