Arrested Caraga highway robbers charged in court

CAMP RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City — Some members of the notorious highway robbery group of Jimmy Brillantes who were arrested last April have been charged before the Municipal Trial Courts in Jabonga and Kitcharao towns, all in Agusan del Norte.

Police reports claimed that the robbers, including Henry Samonte, Rommel Ilagan, Benjamen Porogoy, Joseph Biog and Pedro Layham are now facing various robbery and attempted homicide charges before different courts in Agusan del Norte.

Police said Samonte was charged with robbery and attempted homicide under criminal case number 3552 in the Municipal Trial Court of Jabonga and Kitcharao. He was arrested last April 7 by operatives of the Kitcharao Municipal Police office.

Meanwhile, the Caraga Police claimed they have already identified other members of the Jimmy Brillantes group who are now in hiding after witnesses positively identified them as the ones who killed an army sergeant in Alegria, Surigao del Norte last week.

The Caraga Police is offering a cash reward for anybody who can positively identify the suspects and lead to their arrest.

Caraga Police Regional Director Atty. Alberto Rama Olario warned that there will be no stopping of the manhunt operations against the suspects. "They have already inflicted so much to innocent civilians and are now even victimizing law enforcers. Rest assured that we will not sleep on this and we must put them behind bars to answer all charges against them," Olario said.

But he also warned policemen to always obey rules as he assured the public that the rights of the suspects will be protected and upheld by policemen once caught.

"Summary killings have no place in my jurisdiction as I always believe that the accused have the right to defend themselves before the bar of justice," he said.