Court sheriff, pals held for robbery

A court sheriff and his two companions who pretended to be policemen when they robbed a man were arrested in Pasig City Monday night.

The suspects, Nestor Casida, alias Nestor Bangus, 42, a sheriff at the Pasig City Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) and his companions Benigno Alonzo, 41, and Victorino Mateo, alias Bekbok Mateo were arrested in separate police operations at 10 p.m. Monday.

Casida, Alonzo and Mateo were positively identified by their victim, Nestor Araneta, 37 as among those who took his wallet containing P17,000 cash and a cellphone Monday.

Araneta said he was taking a nap inside his house at Putol street in Barangay Rosario when five men, including Casida, Alonzo and Mateo arrived at about 4 p.m. and identified themselves as members of the District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU). The group asked him to accompany them outside.

Sensing trouble, Araneta took out his wallet and handled it to his niece, Rhea. But Casida grabbed the wallet and handed it to one of his companions while saying, "Lieutenant, here’s his wallet."

The group shoved Araneta inside their car and drove towards Raymundo Road in Barangay Rosario where he was divested of his cash and a cellphone.

He was then released but not before being warned not to report the incident to the police. However, Araneta reported the incident to Superintendent Antonio Aguilar, head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, who formed a team to go after the suspects. Aguilar identified the two other suspects as Marciano Pinga III and a certain Lt. Santiago. The three suspects refused to talk to newsmen.

But while undergoing interrogation, three other robbery victims surfaced and identified the suspect as the same guys who robbed them of their cash and jewelry in Pasig City early this year. – Non Alquitran