Security guard linked to P.5M office robbery

Police arrested an off-duty  security guard on suspicion that he  connived with three men  in robbing  workers of a cell phone loading  company in barangay Lorega, Cebu City.

Police said text messages in the cell phone of Bartolome Paciente, 47,  showed he was in touch with the robbers.

A  fellow security guard Saturnino Berangberang was also held by police for questioning.

Both guards were assigned at the M15 Corporation Oriental on  Echavez Street.

In an interview with reporters, Paciente admitted that he gave information to the robbers that cash was stored in the company.

Paciente is a native of Ozamiz City. He identified the three robbers as Francis Baarag and a certain Bong and Roy, his  neighbors in Ozamiz.

Paciente said he met with the three last week in a hotel in Echavez.

Police said around 8 p.m. last Friday, three armed men broke into the company’s building and held up 11 employees, who lost  high-end cellular phones, cash, laptops, jewelry and personal belongings whose total value was  more  than half a million pesos.

PO3 Mark Betoño, investigator of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said police are are still studying what charges to be filed against Paciente.

Betoño said Paciente was off-duty when the robbery occurred.

Police said all workers were gathered after the robbery and they noticed that Paciente was acting suspiciously.

Paciente’s cell phone was confiscated.  Investigators found proof of his  exchange with the robbers.

Police  said an operation to arrest the robbers is in progress./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON