Bank robber convicted

A bank robber involved in the hold-up of a branch of the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) in Quezon City has been convicted and sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of 10 years.

Allan Abcede was found guilty of robbery by Judge Estrella Estrada of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 in a decision promulgated last April 21. Abcede, together with his brother Eustiquio and six others held up the Timog-Circle branch of BPI in the morning of Feb. 9.

Armed with Armalite rifles and handguns, the suspects ransacked the drawers of the tellers, taking with them cash amounting to P842,478,94.

The brothers, believed to be members of Waray Ozamis Gang, were arrested in Tondo, Manila and San Pablo City in Laguna. They were positively identified in a line-up by the bank’s two security guards.

Abcede will be transferred to the Muntinlupa Bilibid Prisons from the Quezon City jail. His brother died in jail during the trial. – Katherine Adraneda