Robbery group's capture boosts Mayor Ondo's anti-crime drive

MAYOR Edward C. Codilla congratulated the local police for the capture of a robbery group that was responsible for a string of heists in the city. The perpetrators were arrested after a botched robbery of a pawnshop on Tuesday and were promptly presented to the mayor the next day.

Two of the five caught suspects are natives of Ormoc identified as Serato, 44 of Zone 3, Dist. 28; and Mark Alvin Rosal, 30 of Alta Vista. The rest are from Mindanao namely Wesler Sepulveda, 37 of Ginabut, Tangub City; Trifon Camasura, 31 of San Pablo, Pagadian City; and Jun Carlo Mandegro, 28 of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur. All of them are family men except for Sepulveda.

The suspects attempted to strike at Anjes Pawnshop located on Aviles St. in the afternoon of Aug. 18 but was foiled when proprietor King Aviles engaged them to a shootout. The robbers ran away but left behind a motorcycle owned by Rosal. The police tracked his address through the motorcycle and nabbed him and his companions one by one. Another member, Joseph Magdadaro, eluded arrest and is believed to have fled to Cebu.

City Police Director SSupt. Ferdinand M. Garay said they are the same group involved in a holdup incident in Brgy. Valencia last month. They are also responsible for the midday robbery of an establishment (tailoring shop and travel booking agency) on Bonifacio St. on Aug. 3 wherein they were able to cart off with P200,000 cash.

Codilla directed Garay to subject the captives to a drug test as he suspects they may have been motivated by substance use in committing crimes especially Serato who works as heavy equipment operator for Energy Development Corp. where he earns P29,000 a month.

The mayor also lauded Garay and SInsp. Rio Tan, chief of Police Station 1 for their latest feat. “Hinaut nga ang atong mga kapulisan ila gyud i-maintain ang atong kalinaw sa Ormoc kay mao nay importante para ang mga investors mudaghan diri ug dilli sila magpanagana’g bubo sa ilang puhunan diri kay way kuyaw sa krimen,” he said.