POLICE FILES

Compostela shootout

A MAN , whom police identified as a leader of a robbery group operating in northern and southern Cebu towns, was killed in a shootout with province policemen on Saturday in a barangay in Compostela town in northern Cebu.

Ariel Almendras died after he was hit in the stomach during the shootout between Almendras, his two companions and the three Cebu province policemen in barangay Guimbal at past 8 p.m.

Police claimed that Almendras was the leader of the “Harold Barbero Robbery group”, who victimized traders and lending collectors in Cebu towns.

The policemen said they went to the barangay to check reports about the presence of armed men in the area.

When they arrived, they saw Almendras brandishing a .45 caliber pistol. But when the policemen approached Almendras and his two companions, they fled. A brief chase ensued. The shootout started when Almendras drew his gun and fired at the pursuing policemen. He missed. The policemen returned fire and hit Almendras. Almendras companions, however, escaped.

Police recovered a .45 caliber pistol and a magazine with live bullets and a Nokia cellphone from Almendras. /Reporter Rhea Ruth V. Rosell

Burglar nabbed

POLICE yesterday arrested one of the suspects who broke into an Internet cafe in barangay Looc, Mandaue City last April 23.

Police collared Jeffrey Pinero, 38, of Isla de Palma, barangay Looc, Mandaue City after an informer told him of the suspect’s presence in barangay Looc.

Police also confiscated an unlicensed .38 caliber revolver, five marijuana sticks from Pinero.

Police said Pinero admitted to his involvement in the Looc Internet cafe burglary, where he and his cohorts took at least P250,000 worth of personal computers.

Police later recovered some of the computer parts in Olango Island. Police said Pinero and his cohorts sold the computers in a fence in Pasil, who also sold it to an Olango resident.

Pinero was detained at the Opao police station pending the filing of charges. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

Robbers caught

POLICE arrested two of three men, who robbed a 30-year-old man, who just got off a taxicab in barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City on Friday night.

Casuntingan police and barangay Maguikay tanods chanced upon Eddie Boy Javier, 18, of sitio Sudlon, barangay Maguikay, after the Goldiecris Ycong, reported the robbery to the police.

Ycong told police that he just alighted from the cab when three men, one of them armed with a gun, robbed him.

The robbers took his bag containing P45,100 cash and personal belongings.

Ycong identified Javier as one of those who robbed him. Police conducted another follow up operation and arrested one of Javier’s cohort, Aigleen Mabuan of sitio Sudlon. The third suspect identified as “Pogot”, however, is still at large.

Javier and Mabuan told police that Pogot convinced them to commit the crime with him. They said that Pogot only gave them P800 each. The victim’s money wasn’t recovered.

Both suspects were detained at the police station pending the filing of charges. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

San Remigio road accident

A 49-YEAR-OLD man was killed when he was hit by a six-wheeler truck as he was riding his bicycle in barangay Victoria, San Remigio town in northern Cebu last Saturday afternoon.

Vicente Canete sustained body injuries and was declared dead on arrival at the Cebu Provincial hospital in Bogo City.

Investigation showed that Canete was riding his red mountain bike on his way home at past 1 p.m. when a violet Isuzu truck with plate no. XNR-622 heading to Tabuelan town, southern Cebu bumped him.

Truck driver Noel Pajaganas, 46, of barangay Apalan, Tuburan town, northern Cebu surrendered to the police after the incident. He was detained at the San Remigio police detention cell pending the filing of charges./Reporter Rhea Ruth V. Rosell