By Kit Bagaipo
The Philippine Daily InquirerTwo more suspects in the midday holdup of a Bank of Commerce van last Tuesday have been arrested, according to Tagbilaran and Loay town police who staged a joint operation.
Arrested first was Arsenio Polo, alias Botyok, at 10:45 p.m. Thursday and Al Fuentes, early Friday morning, in Barangay (village) Alegria, Loay town. The two were hiding in a secluded area where they had camped out, police said.
Senior Police Officer 4 Asterio Quinio, Loay police chief, said motorcycle-for-hire drivers informed them that Polo had been spotted in Barangay (village) Palo.
The police also received a report that Casimiro "Meloy" Garcia and his group met at the residence of one Teodula Auxtero in Alegria, Loay before the Tuesday heist. Auxtero is a native of Talibon, the hometown of the suspects, said Quinio.
Police placed the village under surveillance since Tuesday after the robbery because there was a possibility that Polo and Fuentes might turn up there, Quinio said.
Fuentes, who did not know that Polo was arrested Thursday night, even communicated with his accomplice through text, he said.
Polo later led Tagbilaran City and Loay police to the location of Fuentes early Friday morning, Quinio said.
They arrived at the hideout when Fuentes just woke up. He did not resist arrest, he said.
Recovered from Fuentes were two .38 caliber revolvers and ammunition, he said.
During initial interrogation, the two suspects admitted their participation in the Bank of Commerce robbery, said Quinio.
Polo also admitted to have participated in at least three robberies with Garcia, said Quinio.
In a separate interview, Bohol police provincial director Senior Superintendent Edgardo Ingking said they considered last Tuesday's robbery as solved.
All five suspects are in police custody. The police will file robbery charges against Garcia, Polo, Fuentes, Cresencio Reguya, Gilven Nuez and van-for-hire driver Sofronio Remoreras, said Ingking.
Police first arrested Reguya who was seriously wounded during the shootout with two Bank of Commerce security guards last Tuesday. They arrested Garcia and Nuez Tuesday night at a resort in Panglao town.
Ingking clarified that Rodolfo "Dopong" Atega, who was arrested by a team of Cebu City police in San Miguel town last Wednesday was not part of the Tuesday robbery.
The shootout at the Bank of Commerce resulted in the death of security guard Remegio Cañizar and the wounding of two others -- Tirso Fullido and Meliton Lamoste -- and the suspect Reguya.
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Topic: 2 More Robbery Suspects arrested in Loay, Bohol (Yehey!) (Read 1793 times)