Robbery suspects in Kananga, arrested

Five suspects were apprehended by law enforcers in a hot pursuit operation after the robbery victims, the couple Joanar Dacillo and his wife, Wendy Luz Sanchez-Dacillo, reported to the police station here that more than P150,000 in cash was taken from them by unidentified suspects riding in a Wizard Skygo Motorcycle color black.

The police identified the suspects as Arnel Espenola, 20, married and a resident of Angeles City; Alex Abendaño, 44, single and a resident of San Antonio, Northern Samar; Marvin Malinao; Rafael Cabradilla, 35, married and a resident of Sitio Salibongcogon; and the owner of the house where the three aforementioned suspects rented, Esmael Conejos, 36, married and the driver of the victim, Joanar and Wendy Luz.

Joanar and Wendy Luz were the distributor of Pepsi Products in this town. They were on their way to Ormoc City riding in a single motorcycle with Esmael Conejos as their driver. While they were in the vicinity of Barangay Naghalin, along the national highway, at around 3:00 p.m., a black Skygo motorcycle with three persons on board suddenly overtaken them. Then they disembarked, poked a handgun at them and declared a hold-up, saying: “Daplin motor, ug ihatag ang kwarta, Dili gani patyon ta mo.” The victims then gave the bag that contained P150,000 to the suspects.

The PNP Kananga police station, with SPO1 Ala together with eight other personnel, conducted a hot pursuit operation together with the victim and proceeded to the house of the driver of the victim, Esmael Conejos. The victim, Joanar, sighted the Skygo motorcycle and identified it as the motorcycle used by the suspects. The responding officers called up the suspects to surrender peacefully. However, one of the suspects fired his firearm towards PO1 Fabella and the PNP personnel returned fire.

The four suspects were brought to the police station, while the one who managed to escape, Marvin Malinao, was arrested at 8:10 p.m. at Sto. Niño, Capoocan, Leyte while walking along the national road. Confiscated items in the house of Rafael Cabradilla, in Sitio Salibongcogon, Barangay Lonoy, were one (1) caliber 45 pistol, Colt Chrome M1911A1 with serial number 850779 stainless, one unit caliber 45 pistol Colt Chrome with serial number 252639 with evidences three magazines for caliber 45, 36 pieces live ammunition for caliber 45, and money amounting to P 58,420.00 and one Skygo Wizard black motorcycle. Several cellphones were also taken from the suspects. One of the suspect’s cellphone showed text messages of the driver’s victim.