More victims pin down 6 rob suspects

AT LEAST eight robbery victims showed up at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and positively identified  the six persons arrested for their alleged involvement in the spate of robberies in the city.

Most of the robbery victims said they were robbed while riding passenger jeepney, said Insp. Rolando Pinili, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section if the CCPO.

The complainants surfaced after watching the arrest of the six persons on television reports.

Complaints for robbery were filed yesterday against Mark Joseph Abellanosa, 18, of barangay Bulacao; Mario Camomot, 27, barangay Lahug; Nelgen Dacalos, 27, of barangay Pardo; Ernesto Andog, 24; and two other minors.

The six persons denied the allegations against them. They said they were victims of mistaken identity.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, chief of the CCPO, said they believed that the arrested persons were behind most of the robberies in the city.

Dacalos, a former call center agent, is out on bail for frustrated murder charges.

Police said operations to arrest the group’s cohorts are ongoing.

Police said robbery victims should present proof of ownership to recover their belongings taken by the suspected robbers.

Recovered from the suspects were a laptop, bags, and several identification cards.

One of the victims, Tina Rodriguez of barangay Camputhaw, identified Camomot as the one who robbed her early morning last Sunday near the Redemptorist church.

She said she lost her bag with cellular phone and P3,000 cash in the robbery.

She said Camomot poked a gun at her and took her belongings.

Rodriguez recognized a .38 revolver that was recovered by police in the arrest as the one used in the robbery.

Another robbery victim, Jane Wee, identified Abellanosa as the one who robbed her of her cellphone while she was on board a jeepney. /CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON