Police caught up in Kidapawan City’s central business district on Tuesday with the six suspects in the robbery of a delivery van in nearby Makilala town. Police tagged the suspects for the series of holdups in Butuan City and Davao de Oro. (Photo by WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA / Inquirer Mindanao)
KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato, Philippines — Six suspects in the robbery of a delivery van in Makilala town in this province were arrested by the police when they parked their vehicle on busy Jose Abad Santos Street in this city.
The six suspects carted away at least P50,000 from the delivery van they robbed in Barangay Malasila of Makilala town before they fled to this city to avoid arrest, according to Lt. Colonel Britz Sales, the chief Makilala Municipal Police Statin.
The police immediately caught up with the suspects with the help of concerned citizens.
The prompt reporting by civilians also prevented a shootout between the suspects and police officers at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in the bustling central business district here.
Sales identified the suspects as Gemar Tipan, Manilito Linda, Allan Miesco, Dennis Sefuentes, Denver Jay Sefuentes, and Arcadio Sefuentes — all residents of Davao de Oro.
Police seized from them four .45-caliber pistols, ammunition, and the remaining P35,000 in cash.
Sales said the suspects had a pending warrant of arrest in Butuan City for a series of holdups but they got out of jail after posting bail.
“We verified from our counterparts in Davao de Oro that they had an existing warrant of arrest there,” Sales told reporters.
Col. Peter Pinalgan, chief of the Kidapawan City Police Station, said the suspects could have been planning to rob another establishment on Jose Abad Santos Street here before they were arrested.
He also linked the group to a robbery last May of a businesswoman, who lost jewelry and money.
The businesswoman reportedly owned an agriculture-veterinary supply store. She was on her way to Davao del Sur when robbed along the national highway in this city.
Pinalgan said the suspects were detained at the Makilala custodial facility, pending the filing of charges against them.