Two robbers arrested by patrolling officers

CEBU, Philippines - Two robbers were arrested Saturday night by Waterfront Police after they forcibly took a ring from a passenger inside a Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) using a caliber .45 pistol and a hand grenade. The robbery happened near M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Villagonzalo I Sts. around 9:00 p.m.

Police identified the suspects as Gilbert Mariposque, 29, and his cohort Ray Bacalso. Both are residents of Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, and are allegedly involved in a series of robberies around the city.

The suspects pretended to be passengers of the PUJ; however, when the jeepney was nearing M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Villagonzalo I Sts., one of the suspects grabbed the right hand of the victim, identified as Liezelda Asentista of Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, and took her wedding ring worth P8,000. The victim resisted at first but gave in after the suspect said he will shoot the rest of the passengers if she did not hand over the ring.

After taking the victim’s ring, the two suspects hurriedly disembarked from the jeepney and tried to flee away. The victim and the other passengers then shouted for help. Police officers from the Waterfront Police Station responded to the passengers’ shout.

PO2 Geann Paulo Saberon said they noticed a commotion inside a Public Utility Jeepney near M.J. Cuenco and Villagonzalo I while conducting their night patrol. They also saw two persons running away from the jeepney. Police officers led by PO3 Christopher Sanchez chased and intercepted them and were able to recover the wedding ring, a hand grenade and a caliber .45 pistol from the suspects.

Saberon said that the two suspects were involved in a series of robbery incidents. “Six months na ming ginukdanay ana, karon pa gyud na sila naabtan, og demalas, sa una kutsilyo ray gamit ana karon .45 na og granda,” said Saberon.

Furthermore, past 12:00 noon yesterday, Faye Ann Talisay also positively identified the suspects as the ones responsible for taking her class ring while taking a PUJ near the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu two months ago.

Talisay said that Bacalso pointed a bladed weapon on her while Mariposque forcibly took her ring. Talisay added that the incident happened on a Friday night after she attended mass at the Basilica. Talisay is keen on filing a case against the suspects.

In an interview with the suspects, both suspects said they were surprised that they were linked to the incident and argued that they were just caroling inside the jeepney. The suspects denied that they robbed Asentista and also denied ownership of both the caliber .45 pistol and hand grenade.

The suspects are currently detained.   (FREEMAN)