Five members of robbery group fall

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested five alleged members of a robbery group in Cebu City yesterday. One of them is also held responsible for the recent shooting of a man who tried to defend his girlfriend in Barangay Kasambagan last Sunday.

Police identified those arrested as James Harold Barbero, Ramil Batican, Ronald Dindin and Marlon Hermoso, all of Danao City, and Justil Flores of Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Barbero, who is allegedly the leader of the group, is also suspected of shooting and killing Juan Carlos Villordon last Sunday.

PO3 Reynaldo Solante, team leader of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, said Barbero sustained two gunshot wounds in both legs for resisting arrest during their operation.

Solante said it was Barbero who started shooting at them, forcing them to return fire.

Barbero is still undergoing treatment at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City where he was later referred from the Talisay City Hospital.

Recovered from his possession were a hand grenade and a .45 cal. pistol with several live rounds.

The arrest of the five came after the apprehension of Marlon Andrino, 34, of Barangay Magay, Compostela town, who is facing charges for several counts of robbery and carnapping.

He was arrested last January 12 by the Mandaue City police after victimizing a certain Shiela May Antolihao. Andrino was collared in the follow-up operation but his accomplice Junie Caraat was shot by the police in the head in a shootout during the chase. 

Insp. Ramil Morpos, deputy chief of the investigation branch of the Mandaue City Police Office, shared Andrino’s information with other intelligence units and an operation was mounted.

Batican, Dindin and Hermoso are blamed for several highway robberies and carnappings in Metro Cebu areas as well as in Cebu City.

Recovered from them were a medium pack and two large packets of shabu, a .38 cal. revolver with three live rounds and two empty shells, a .22 cal. revolver with two live rounds, a .45 cal. pistol with a loaded magazine, drug paraphernalia, a digital camera and a Honda Wave motorcycle without plate number, and assorted wallets and bags.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said that suspects were not only involved in robberies but also in illegal drugs and contract killings.

Flores, who was arrested in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, was also allegedly responsible for a series of carnappings in Cebu City. He also has a pending warrant for attempted murder for shooting a man in Lapu-Lapu City a year ago.

Theft and Robbery Section chief Insp. Rolando Pinili said they once arrested Flores for illegal possession of firearms, however, he was later released.

Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Cebu City Police Office director, claimed that Barbero was positively identified by Aimee Sembrano, the girlfriend of Juan Carlos Villordon, as the one who shot him.

“Di pa namin tapos maipakita ang larawan umiyak na ang girlfriend nu’ng victim,” Buenafe said.

Barbero allegedly tried to grab the bag of Sembrano then shot Villordon when he tried to defend her. – (FREEMAN)