CPPO: Mindanao groups trump local rob gangs

CEBU, Philippines - Mindanao-based robbery groups pose more of a threat to Cebu than the local robbery gangs, this according to Cebu Provincial Police Office director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador.

Comendador said that only Mindanao groups have the capability to recruit enough members to add to their force since the “local boys” or Cebu-based groups are easily apprehended by the police.

“Sa Cebu way makaporma dayon ug dako nga grupo kay dali man mapakgang,” he said.

Comendador claimed that Mindanao groups can be distinguished based on their mode of execution, the firearms they use and their targeted establishments. Mindanao groups usually hit big financial establishments using long firearms and their mode of execution is well-planned.

“Dili na sila motira og gagmay lang, adto na sila sa bangko or mga pera padala,” he said adding that local boys do not usually target big establishments.

A few months ago, Leonardo Tabasan, 47, a former army soldier, based in Cagayan de Oro, was nabbed by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch in his house in Barangay Sudlonon, Bogo City.

Tabasan, a native of barangay Puntod, Cagayan de Oro, and believed to be the leader of a notorious robbery group in Mindanao, was positively identified by one of his accomplices who was arrested prior to Tabasan’s arrest.

Police seized from him a .45 cal. Colt 1911 pistol, two magazines with seven live rounds each, a hand grenade and four medium sachets of shabu.

Last month, a foiled heist in uptown Cebu carried out by a robbery group based in Ozamiz City claimed five lives, including three robbers, and injured three others.

The latest robbery in Lapu-Lapu City, where two pawnshop managers lost P2 million worth of jewelry, could have also been carried out by a group from Min-danao, police suspect.

Meanwhile, a collector of Cooline Cooperative and Merchandise lost P15,000 cash after he was robbed by unidentified men about 4:30 p.m. last Wednesday in Barangay Antipolo, Medellin town.

Marlo Dagasdas, 29, of Barangay Sudlon, Bogo City preferred to keep his life and gave up the P15,000 cash which robbers demanded from him.

He alleged that he was traveling on his motorcycle when he was waylaid and forced to stop by two men who were wearing black bonnets and armed with guns.

Dagasdas added that one of the robbers took the key of his motorcycle and grabbed his backpack where the cash and his cellular phone were before fleeing on foot.  (FREEMAN)