BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The police filed robbery-in-band charges before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office against 21 suspects believed to be behind a daring daylight robbery of a pawnshop located at the city’s downtown area over the weekend.
Charges were filed Monday against 20 members of the Dipolog-Ozamis-Parohinog Robbery Group and the driver of the rented van for allegedly robbing the F & C Pawnshop and Jewelry Store at Gonzaga-Gatuslao Sts. last Saturday morning of P1 million worth of jewelry.
Bacolod Police Station 1 commander Chief Insp. Danilo Francisco said however that only four of the 20 members of the gang were identified. They were Wagner Minggol, “alias Oliver†of Camaloc Tabuk in Kalinga-Apayao province; Gaudencio Monopollo Jr., with unknown address; Horry Bangiwan of San Carlos Heights in Baguio City; and James Gonzales of Cubao in Quezon City.
Also charged were Rolan Tambasen, 45, resident of Brgy. Taculing of this city and driver of the maroon van rented by the suspects, and 16 other “John Does,†Francisco said, adding that Tambasen was included because of the inconsistencies noted in his statements.
Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel, acting Bacolod Police director, sacked Francisco Tuesday, replacing him with Chief Insp. Levy Pangue. He also relieved Sr. Insp. Jose Mulleta as chief of their Intelligence Branch for failing to intercept the heist, and replaced the official with Insp. Mark Angelo Jungco.
Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Police Regional Office-6 director, also formed a Special Investigation Task Group to immediately solve the crime. (FREEMAN)