Eight robbers indicted in P11.7M jewelry heist

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted eight suspected robbers allegedly responsible in the P11.7 million pawnshop heist more than three years ago killing a civilian in the process.

Assistant city prosecutor Eulogio Borres, Jr. found probable cause to charge Noel Davis of Panabo City, Davao; Frederick Ybanez of Catadman, Purok, Ozamis City; Kirby Abanilla of Suba, Cebu City; Jermaine Polistico of Clarin Ozamis City; Roy Jose Quimada of Kawit, Pagadian City; Junjun Gamanay of Ozamis City and two others identified only as a certain Alber and Quipo with robbery with homicide.

No bail was recommended by the prosecutor’s office for the temporary liberty of the eight accused.

The eight accused were identified as the ones responsible in the May 4, 2008 robbery of a pawnshop in the corner of Magallanes and Calderon Streets. The accused who were then armed with high-powered firearms entered the pawnshop and took P11.7 million worth of jewelry from the two sales clerk manning the store.

On their way to escape, the armed robbers were engaged in a shootout by Police Office 1 Joan San Diego who happened to pass by the area. During the shootout two bystanders were hit, Remedio Dungog and Ronillo Dakol. They were brought to the hospital but Dungog died.

A continuing hot pursuit operation then conducted by the police resulted in the arrest of Ybanez and Davis. — (FREEMAN)