ARMED MAN NABBED AT HOME
POLICE arrested a man whose features resemble that of a robbery group leader in Barili town, southwest Cebu.
Jill Andrew Maravillas, 27, was arrested in his home in sitio Mangga, barangay Malolos, at 5:30 a.m. yesterday.
A warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Silvestre Maamo Jr. of Branch 17.
A .38 revolver with three bullets and a magazine for a .45 pistol were recovered in the man’s house.
Chief Insp. George Ylanan, chief of the Regional Special Operations Group in Central Visayas, said police applied for a search warrant after they received reports that Maravillas was seen brandishing a firearm in the barangay.
Ylanan said the police identified Maravillas as the leader of a robbery group which victimized businessmen, salesmen and lending collectors in Barili and Aloguinsan towns.
Maravaillas denied the allegation.
Police said the robbery group was formed in 2010, the same year that Maravillas was placed in a police watch list of persons involved in illegal drug activities.
Ylanan said the robbery group has six to eight members who use motorcycles during robberies.
The man was detained at the Sawang Calero police station in Cebu City pending the filing of charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against him. /CORRESPONDENT RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL
BRIDGES SECURITY
LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza said she supports the recommendation of the city’ police chief to tighten security at the two bridges connecting Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities.
Radaza said she would endorse to the Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board the recommendation of Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas to field Lapu-Lapu police at the two bridges.
Radaza is a member of the board.
Radaza said she instructed police to increase police visibility in the two bridges to avoid bridge jumps and other untoward incidents.
Lawas said the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office couldn’t deploy policemen at the two briges since it was out of their jurisdiction.
He said he will raise the matter to the bridge management board headed by Gov. Gwendoly Garcia and coordinate with the private security agency tasked to guard the two bridges. /CORRESPONDENT Fe Marie D. Dumaboc