2 suspected robbers nabbed at checkpoint

CEBU, Philippines - Two suspected robbers were held at a police checkpoint in Barangay Damulog, Sogod Tuesday afternoon.

Members of the Sogod police are checking on the possible involvement of Christopher Pugado, 39, and Erwin Dagatan, 28, of Barangays Cadaruhan and Sagay, Borbon, respectively, in the LBC-Bogo City branch last weekend.

Sogod police chief, Inspector Romeo Caacoy Jr., said that they are now closely coordinating with the Bogo City police station for possible identification of the suspects by witnesses in the LBC robbery.

 â€œTuana nila, amo nang na-email unya karon mura’g nag-follow up ang Bogo City ug ang IDMB kay nagpaabot pa pud mi sa feedback nila,” Caacoy said in a phone interview.

Caacoy said they have also sent copies of the pictures of the suspects to the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch to check if they are involved in other robbery incidents in the province.

Pugado and Dagatan were arrested during a checkpoint at 3 p.m. Tuesday for illegal possession of firearms. They were onboard a motorcycle without plate number when flagged down by policemen. Seized from them were a .45 caliber pistol with six rounds of ammunition and caliber .38 revolver with three bullets.

Initial feedback from Bogo City police chief Hermano Mallari, however, was negative. Mallari said none of  the LBC employees have identified either of the two suspects.

“Dili man kuno mao ingon ang duha kay amo mang gipa-identify pero wala una namo i-assume nga dili mao kay naa pa may ikatulo nga witness nga nakakita gyud,” Mallari said.

Mallari said they are now conducting background investigation on the suspects.

So far, wala man ni sila’y record sa Bogo pero wa ta kahibalo ato pang tan-awon,” Mallari said.

The LBC branch in Barangay Libertad, Bogo City was robbed by unidentified armed men last week. It was the third outlet to be robbed within a period of month. The first two branches were that in Tabok, Mandaue and Tabo-an in Cebu City.

Even if they will not be identified by witnesses, the suspects will still face criminal complaints for violation of the Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. — (FREEMAN)