Suspected head of rob gang falls

CEBU, Philippines - The long arm of the law caught up with the alleged leader of a robbery gang that has been tagged responsible for a botched heist of a roving bank teller inside a mall near Fuente Osmeña in September last year.

Arrested at around 8:30 a.m. yesterday at a relative’s house in the outskirts of Siayan, Zamboanga Del Norte was Dionisio Cabatingan, a.k.a. Jun Cabando.

He was arrested by a team from the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office-7 led by Supt. Pablo Labra II, deputy chief of RID.

The arrest was made in coordination with RID-9.

Labra said they were armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Wilfredo Navarro of Regional Trial Court Branch 19 for two counts of robbery with homicide, frustrated homicide, and robbery with physical injuries.

Cabando did not resist arrest, Labra said.

Labra said that through their intelligence build-up, they were able to trace Cabando’s whereabouts. They found out that he was in Mindanao.

Earlier this week, a text message was circulated among those in the security industry about alleged sightings of Cabando’s group in Cebu.

Labra said they will present the suspect in public today.

As of press time last night, Cabando was still undergoing tactical interrogation.

The arresting officers along with Cabando arrived at the Pier 1 at 8 p.m. yesterday on board Ocean Jet.

He was immediately brought to the RID headquarters at PRO-7.

Labra told the media that he will present Cabando today as per instruction from PRO-7 Director Chief supt. Marcelo Garbo.

The RID deputy chief confirmed that Cabando was indeed hurt during the botched heist in Cebu.

He was reported to have been shot in the buttocks while trying to flee.

Last September 6, three robbers and two security guards died in the botched holdup of an armored car that was transporting P1.2 million to a foreign currency trader based inside the mall.

Bank teller Lewen Surig of Chinabank Magallanes branch and PO1 Elrich Jourdin Catacutan and PO1 Roy Ceniza were injured in that incident.

Security guards Lito Odac and Leofer Itac died in that incident as well as three of suspected robbers — Mario Dapitan, Melecio Quiapo and Antonio Adelan.

The bag containing P1.2 million was recovered at Ranudo Street, which is only a few hundred meters from the crime scene. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)