Police readying charges against Ozamiz gang

CEBU, Philippines - The City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is set to file three separate charges today against the members of the Ozamis robbery group that is suspected of robbing Thursday a pawnshop at a mall.

Among the charges to be filed in the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against eight people are illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in relation to the Comelec gun ban, kidnapping, and stealing a car.

These after seven .45 pistols, two KG 9 Ingrams, a hand grenade, and two wrenches were found inside an abandoned rented Toyota Hi-Ace van (YCD 768) at a parking lot near the mall at the North Reclamation Area.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, CIB chief, said kidnapping charges will be filed against them for blindfolding Edgar Rubite, the van’s driver, inside the vehicle.

Charges for carnapping will also be filed for failing to return the rented vehicle at the prescribed time.

But, of the eight, Rubite only identified Aylon “Marlon” Parojinog, based on the rogue’s gallery of the police.

The CIB is also verifying information that robbers are members of the Jun-Jun Cabando group (Dionisio Cabatingan in real name) that was involved in the Robinson’s heist in Fuente Osmeña circle two years ago.

Three robbers and two security guards were killed while two rookie policemen and a teller were injured during that incident.

Robbers took P1.2 million from a teller inside the mall but it was later recovered by members of the Special Weapons and Tactics who shot dead three robbers during a chase.

“Ongoing among validation pero initially possibly nga mao rang grupuha,” Santander said in a phone interview.

After learning the group was sighted in Danao City a few days earlier, Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said checkpoints were immediately set up.

“We received information that Danao was the initial target so Monday afternoon pa lang we disseminated information,” Comendador said.

Comendador also suspected the group has a contact in the city.

While waiting for a cue from a cohort Thursday afternoon, robbers reportedly panicked upon seeing policemen near the mall and left their firearms inside the van.

Cebu City Police Office director Mariano Natu-el Jr. has alerted all financial establishments in the city to tighten their security.

The police official also believes the group is still in Cebu.  (FREEMAN)