4 suspects in Mandaue mall robbery killed

CEBU CITY — Four of the suspects in Saturday night’s robbery at J Centre Mall in Mandaue City were killed after they allegedly tried to grab the firearms of the police shortly after they were arrested at the Pulambato Port, Bogo City in northern Cebu.

Police Major Emelie Santos, chief of the Bogo City Police Station, identified the fatalities as Kevin Andales, Wilfredo Enguito, Philip Taborada, and Glen Tairos.

Col. Jonathan Abella, director of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said they sought help from the police stations in the province after over 10 men armed with high-powered firearms robbed two jewelry stores, a pawnshop, and a money changer inside J Centre Mall in Barangay Bakilid, Mandaue city shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday, October 19.

MCPO, he said, gave all the details including the getaway vehicles used by the suspects to all the neighboring police stations.

At past 11 p.m. Saturday, Police Staff Sergeant Jojit Potot noticed a Toyota Innova with plate number ZEM 489 and three motorcycles in a wharf located in Barangay Pulambato, Bogo City.

The description of the vehicles matched the details given by the Regional Special Operations Group in Central Visayas (RSOG-7), thus Potot immediately apprehended the suspects.

The police identified those arrested as Roel Sumingit, 35, a resident of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental; Jun Candelaria, 38, of Naga City, Bicol; Julivy Quirante, 43, of Tangub City;  Arnel Cimafranca, 38,  of Tangub City; and a still unidentified man.

The police were able to recover firearms, cellular phones, thousands of money, vehicle tools, and clothes from the suspects.

The RSOG operatives brought the suspects to the Bogo Police City Station.

On their way to the police station, however, Santos said four of the suspects allegedly grabbed the firearms of the police, prompting the operatives to shoot them.

Santos said another group of suspects, who may have possession of the jewelry, remains at large. /je