Gunrunner reportedly a “notorious robber”

CEBU, Philippines - The man who was arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, last Sunday dawn, has reportedly figured in at least three robbery incidents in Cebu City.

Sandy Kho, 33, admitted to being part of a group that robbed a slaughterhouse owner in Barangay Inayawan and a pharmacy in Barangay Talamban last Saturday.

Kho, a resident of   Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City, further confessed to having been involved in a shooting incident in Barangay Banilad last December 2 that killed a real estate broker.

Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, director of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said Kho was arrested after a carnapping incident around 1 a.m. last Monday.

"Na-corner siya while driving the carnapped motorcycle," said Lawas, adding that the suspect reportedly shot it out with the police.

The suspect was also seized with a KG-9 pistol and a .45 cal. pistol, said Lawas.

LLCPO then turned over Kho to the Cebu City Police Office after learning from the Regional Intelligence Division-7 of the suspect's alleged involvement in a series of robberies in Cebu City.

CCPO Director Noli Romana said that during interrogation, Kho confessed to the three incidents and will be executing an extra-judicial confession.

"Marami pa kami ngayong ini-extract na information from him," said Romana.

Romana said they are now looking for three of Kho's accomplices, whom he himself named. The firearms seized from Kho will be subjected to a ballistic test to determine if these were used in previous crimes.

At about 11 a.m. last Saturday, Kho and his accomplices robbed chicken slaughterhouse owner Wella Rosal of P800,000 cash in Barangay Inayawan. Around 4 p.m. of the same day, the same group allegedly robbed the Rose Pharmacy branch in Barangay Talamban and escaped with P80,000 cash.

Last December 2, a man whom Kho claimed was one of his associates, shot and killed real estate broker Edgar Cañete, who just withdrew P500,000 cash from a nearby bank. However, the assailant failed to take the money.

In an interview with the media, Kho admitted being involved in the incidents, although he claimed he was only the designated get away driver of the motorcycles used.

"Gi-pick up ra ko nila. Igo ra ko nag-drive sa sakyanan. Dili ako ang gunman, pero kaila ko sa mga tawo na nagbuhat ana. Mutabang ko sa pulis para makuha sila," he said.

He said that after every robbery, he would just wait for his share. He also said he usually does not know how much he will be getting after every heist.

He also denied shooting at policemen on Monday, saying it was his accomplice who was able to escape.

Kho said he was then about to sell the two guns seized from him in Maribago when he was arrested.

Kho will face charges for carnapping, frustrated homicide, and illegal possession of firearms from LLCPO and two counts of robbery-hold up and murder charges from CCPO.  — (FREEMAN)