Gang members nabbed for robbery

CEBU, Philippines - Two notorious gang members were arrested after they robbed and injured a call center agent in Barangay Kinasang-an last Thursday evening.

An unlicensed firearm was also seized from suspects Rusty Cabigas and Anecito Embrado Jr. along with a pack of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander of the City Intelligence Branch said Israel Sato, 23, a web developer of Catapult International Corp., was injured after the suspects hit him in the head with a gun during the robbery

A team from CIB led by Insp. Gomersendo Mandawe were patrolling in Barangay Kinasang-an when a bystander approached and reported at past 9 pm about the robbery the two suspects just carried out nearby.

After a brief resistance from the suspects, Mandawe’s team managed to arrest the two.

Seized from Cabigas were a caliber .357 power custom revolver loaded with five live bullets and an empty shell of a caliber .38 revolver; a backpack containing a mobile phone, assorted cards bearing Sato’s name and a small pack believed to contain shabu.

Drug paraphernalia such as disposable lighter, tin foils, and rolled tissue papers utilized as wick were also recovered from Embrado.

Cebu City Police Office director Marinao Natu-el Jr. said investigation further showed that Cabigas and Embrado are members of Crips Gang and are remnants of the group of alleged hitman, Rene Baclaan alias Insek, who is now at the Cebu City Jail.

The suspects are also involved in previous robbery incidents and in a shooting incident victimizing an SK member in Barangay Pardo last Sunday evening, Natu-el further said.

CIB brought the suspects to the Cebu City Medical Center for the treatment of the injuries that they sustained upon resisting the police.

The two were then showed to Sato, who pointed at them as the ones who held him up at a gunpoint and mauled him.

Both suspects denied the accusations, saying they even got surprised the police suddenly arrested them.

Charges for robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and serious physical injuries were filed against the suspects yesterday, said Santander.  (FREEMAN)