Suspect in P3-million Apayao payroll heist arrested

MANILA, Philippines – One of the four suspects in the P3-million payroll robbery in Apayao province last year was arrested Friday by the Cordillera police at a bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City.

Ferdinand Caddawan did not resist arrest when cornered by men of Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestano at the Dominion bus terminal in Cubao at about 11:30 a.m. Friday. Pestano said Caddawan did not resist arrest.

The arrest of Caddawan was a result of a follow-up operation following the arrest of another suspect, Hernandez Tahibi in Western Bicutan, Taguig City by elements of the 1607th Police Provincial Mobile Group on April 5.

With the arrest of Caddawan and Tahibi, the Cordillera police declared as solved the P3 million payroll robbery staged by the suspects in Sitio Banan of Barangay Lenneng, Kabugao Apayao on May 27, 2008.

Records showed that Conrado Sipsip, provincial treasurer of Apayao province and his driver Danilo Balisong and three female companions, on board a Mitsubishi Pajero (SFX 918) when held up by five persons wearing bonnets and armed with Armalite rifles and handguns.

The suspects carted away P3,098,000 payroll money of the province.Police filed robbery charges against Caddawan, Tahibi and Rosendo Ukkong and Jude Jacobo before the sala of Judge Quirino Andaya of the Apayao Regional Trial Court Branch 26.

Jacobo and Ukkong posted bail, while Caddawan and Tahibi remained at large. On April 5, Chief Inspector Reynaldo Ogay Jr., 1607 PPMG commander and an informant coordinated with the Taguig City police for the arrest of Tahibi. – Non Alquitran, Artemio Dumlao