He is “Stubborn,” Chief says: Cop tagged in robberies

CEBU, Philippines — Is PO1 Argel Abella Fuentes the man behind the string of robbery incidents in Mandaue City? The Subangdaku police believe he is.

Senior Insp. Hugo Rio Ipong, chief of Subangdaku Police Station 2, said 31-year-old Fuentes, a resident of Barangay San Nicolas Proper in Cebu City, was identified positively as the suspect by the gas station cashier, Jimmy Boy Sollano Etang.

"Diha sa Barangay Tipolo, particularly sa P. Basubas area, diin pila na ka days diha naa gyud hold-up mahitabo. Tapos, ganihang kadlawon naay info nga ang description nia gyud diha, nagtuyok-tuyok nasad," Ipong told reporters.

Based on videos captured by the closed-circuit television cameras of a gas station in Barangay Tipolo, Fuentes rode and stopped his motorcycle and went to the cashier’s booth that Etang was attending to.

In another CCTV footage, Fuentes entered the booth with a red helmet on, pointed a gun at Etang, and took away the gas station's proceeds worth P1,500 and a cellphone.

"Siya gyud kay iyahang nawng  makita  man. Nag-helmet siya pero mailhan ang nawong," Etang said.

After receiving the report, the station's two mobile patrol units conducted a follow-up operation and cornered Fuentes near the Tipolo Barangay Hall.

Fuentes was on a motorcycle at that time.

"Gi-blockan siya, gani, gigamitan og megaphone nga ipa-stop. Wala gyud siya ni-stop, dire-diretso siya lusot sa Hernan Cortes. Ang usa nako ka mobile, ni bagat sa Hernan Cortes, sa may Mandaue Foam, didto na siya na corner," Ipong explained.

Police confiscated a firearm, helmet, and the motorcycle Fuentes used.

Ipong also said that the description mentioned by the victim was similar to the past robbery incidents in the city since February based on the crime map of the police station.

"Simultaneous iyahang pag-igo (pag-atake). Same description, kadlawon gihapon. Last niyang igo kay July," Ipong said, adding that most victims lost each of their cellphones.

There was also a time when the police and barangay tanods reportedly saw Fuentes and even chased him from A.S. Fortuna Street before the policeman was able to exit to Barangay Talamban in Cebu City.

Fuentes is assigned at the Abellana Police Station 2.

Stubborn

Abellana station chief Maria Teresa Macatangay described Fuentes as very stubborn.

“He is a very stubborn police non-commissioned officer…I really do not know that he has the guts to do this criminal activity, to the extent nga mangawat… that is far from my expectation from him. Naa man gyud badlungon nga pulis, but to go to the extent nga mang-rob ka, it’s too much to swallow,” Macatangay said.

As far as her station is concerned, Fuentes’ most recent infraction involved insubordination when he moved a police outpost he was assigned to without permission.

Macatangay then advised him to take a leave of absence.

Reports of Fuentes allegedly gambling at cockpits have surfaced but Macatangay said these have yet to be verified. He reportedly borrowed P500,000 recently and spent P100,000 gambling.

Macatangay said Fuentes has been assigned at the Abellana Police Station long before she assumed as station chief.

Police Regional Office -7 Director, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, shared Macatangay’s disappointment.

He said the PNP will subject Fuentes to a summary hearing for dismissal where he can explain himself.  — JMO (FREEMAN)