CEBU, Philippines- Five alleged members of robbery group who were suspected behind a robbery and carnapping incident in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning were arrested in a roadblock in Alcoy and Oslob towns yesterday afternoon.
Rodrigo Boyles, 47, of Ubay town, Kent Colanggo, 21, of Mabini town; and Gary Jaylo, 34, of Garcia town, all in Bohol, were arrested by the elements of the Alcoy Police Station, while Richie Signar, 34; and Jericho Francisco, 23, both of Sinacaban, Misamis Oriental, were arrested by the elements of Oslob Police Station and Special Weapons and Tactics operatives of Santander.
Yesterday morning the suspects allegedly stole the car of businesswoman Marites Amit with plate number YLD-565 from her house in Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City.
Initial investigation revealed that Amit came home together with a certain Joy Chan from the latter’s residence at Portville Subdivision, Lapu-Lapu City around 2:30 a.m. yesterday.
Amit told the police that Chan promised her to pay part of her debt worth P500,000 and asked to stay for the night at the victim’s house since she had a misunderstanding with her boyfriend.
Around 7:45 a.m., Chan reportedly woke Amit up and told her that she would cook noodles downstairs since she was hungry. Amit reportedly told Chan that she would just let the helper cook for them but Chan reportedly insisted on cooking it herself and went downstairs.
Around 8:15 a.m., Chan went back to her room but allegedly did not lock the doors behind her and the gate. Fifteen minutes later, four armed men entered Amit’s room. They immediately tied her hands and feet and forcibly put a hand towel inside her mouth and wrapped it with a duct tape around her head.
The suspects then took P2 million worth of post-dated checks; P682,000 cash; P3 million worth of assorted jewelry; three Louis Vuitton bags worth P300,000; a solid gold Cartier watch worth P1.5 million; a laptop worth P25,000; a Louis Vuitton wallet worth P60,000; an iPhone 5S worth P35,000; a Samsung phone worth P1,000; land titles; assorted credit cards; and identification cards of Amit.
They reportedly used the black Mitsubishi Montero Sport of Amit with plate number YLD 565 worth P1.5 million as their getaway vehicle.
Based on the police report of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Crime Against Property Desk, Chan admitted her participation in the crime to the police by purposely opening the doors to allow the armed men inside. Chan reportedly added that one of the suspects also served as a lookout outside Amit’s house.
According to a report from radio station dyLA, the suspects headed south onboard the stolen vehicle.
Made aware of the plate number of the vehicle by the Cebu Provincial Police Office and the Lapu-Lapu Police Office, the Alcoy police conducted a roadblock to watch for the vehicle.
Around 1 p.m. policemen from Alcoy, Boljoon and Oslob noticed the suspects elude a roadblock. The suspects were chased to a dead end in Barangay of Gawi, Oslob. Boyles, who was the driver of the said vehicle, was arrested first, followed by Colanggo and Jaylo. The three are now detained at Alcoy Police Station.
The police recovered two .45 cal. pistols and the stolen vehicle. Also found in the vehicle were some of the items stolen from Amit, two bags owned by the suspects, a roll of tape and other car accessories.
Signar and Francisco who were able to escape and flag down a motorcycle-for-hire, were later arrested by Oslob Police Station and Santander SWAT team operatives in Tan-awan, Oslob.
Inspector Cecilio Pañares, Oslob police chief, said that they recovered P149,000 from Signar and Francisco. The two suspects are currently detained at the Oslob Police Station.
The police were still looking into the background of the suspects as of press time. --/BRP (FREEMAN)