Kin of slain robbers receive cash aid from Cebu City police

Cebu City police chief Melvin Ramon Buenafe fulfilled his promise to give P3,000 in financial aid to  relatives of the two robbers who were killed in last Monday’s foiled robbery in Robinsons Place  in Fuente Osmeña.

Buenafe said the relatives needed the assistance because of their sorry financial state.

Buenafe said the city police would raise a separate amount to help bring the bodies back to Ozamiz City.

However, some  policemen were unhappy with the contribution.

Four policemen, who asked not to be named, said it would be better if the family of the two slain security guards and two wounded policemen were  attended to first.

“It would be better to help them first since they were good people,” said one of the policemen.

Security guards Leofer Etac and Lito Odac were killed, while PO1 Erlich Jourdin Catacutan and PO1 Roy Ceniza were injured in a shoot-out after P1.2-million cash was taken by the robbery gang from Ozamiz City.  The cash was later recovered intact from one of the slain robbers.

Last Friday afternoon,  three Cebu City police officials went to a funeral parlor to turn over  P3,000 cash aid.

The money was accepted by Erlinda Magsanay, mother of Nelson Magsanay,  one of the three slain robbers.

The body of Mario Dapitan was claimed by his  mother, Concordia, while the remains of Dapitan was claimed by his wife, Gina.

A fourth suspect, Dionisio Cabando alias Junjun Cabando, remains at large.

Yesterday, a motorized banca believed to have been used by Cabando to flee Cebu was found in barangay San Roque, Talisay City.

Operators of the banca were taken into police custody for questioning, according to a report by radio dyAB.

Police said it was possible that after he went to Compostela town, Cabando proceeded to Talisay  City where he took a pumpboat for Bohol province.

From Bohol, Cabando may have taken another boat for Ozamiz.

Police said Cabando had several relatives in San Roque./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON