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Bank robbery suspect killed after release from city jail
By Chito O. Aragon
Cebu Daily News
Last updated 12:33pm (Mla time) 09/05/2007

 Cebu City, Philippines - Minutes after his release from the Cebu City jail, robbery gang member Rodolfo Atega Jr. was shot dead on Tuesday night in a taxi cab he was riding with family members on their way to catch a boat ride home to Bohol province.

Shots fired by two gunmen on a motorcycle found their mark with startling precision.

Atega, 21, was shot twice in the head when the taxi suddenly stopped near a gas station along General Maxilom Avenue about 7:45 p.m.

None of the bullets hit the other passengers – Atega’s father in the front seat, his brother, cousin and girlfriend at the back seat with the victim.

The attack bore the signs of a gang rubout or an operation intended to silence any future testimony in court or revelations to the police by this member of the Casimiro “Meloy” Garcia robbery gang.

Atega had just posted P30,000 bail on robbery charges in connection with the August 21 Penbank heist in Mandaue City.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama said he was inclined to believe the killing was well planned by parties who did not want Atega to name the mastermind of the gang.

The robbery group was earlier linked to the robbery of La Nueva supermarket, Penbank in Mandaue City and other business establishments in Bohol and Cebu.

“How did (the killers) know he was posting bail? It’s too much of a coincidence. And we still don’t know who is their mastermind. Every robbery group has a financier. We can only presume who it is,” Rama said.

The vice mayor also criticized the failure to secure Atega as a potential witness.

“If he knew he was being run after, why didn’t he ask to be secured in going out of the jail?” asked the vice mayor. “He was a possible star witness who could bring out their mastermind. If the authorities knew this could happen, the PNP should have taken the initiative (to secure him).”

Atega, a native of San Miguel town in Bohol province, was on his way with family members to catch a 10 p. m. boat ride for Bohol.

When their taxi stopped near a traffic light in front of the Iglesia ni Cristo Church along General Maxilom Ave., shots were fired.

The shots came from the backrider of a motorcycle that had tailed the vehicle. Also on board the taxi were his father Atega Sr., elder brother Ryan, girlfriend Nenita and uncle Inocencio Manligis.

The victim’s father blamed jail authorities for ignoring their requests for an escort. He said the family had asked to be provided a security escort on their way to the port area, but their request was turned down.

“Hangyo mi sa mga gwardiya sa prisohan nga eskortan mi bisan sa pier lang, wa man sila manugot,” Atega said.

They had also asked to spend the night inside the Kalunasan City jail for their safety, but they were not allowed.

Atega Sr. said this was his second time to visit Cebu. On both occasions, one of his sons ended up dead.

His elder son Harris was killed in Sambag Dos when he visited Cebu in January.

“Kaduha nako niari ug Cebu, puro gipatay ang akong mga anak kada ari nako. Wa man unta koy record sa amo, wa pa gyod mi kahibaw unsay kapalaran sa among pamilya,” a teary-eyed Atega Sr. told Cebu Daily News (CDN).

Ryan, the brother, told CDN they had already noticed they were being followed by two men on a motorbike when the taxi was still at the vicinity of Redemptorist Church.

The family asked the taxi driver to go at full speed but when the taxi had to stop for a red light at the intersection of General Maxilom Avenue and D. Jakosalem St., the killers moved in.

Atega was arrested in Bohol province last Wednesday. He was earlier identified as one of those who robbed the PenBank branch in Mandaue City of P2.5 million on August 23. He was ordered released on Tuesday after he posted bail of P30,000.

Taxi driver Cerelino Alcordo, 35, said his five passengers hailed his taxi from the city jail in Barangay (village) Kalunasan and asked to be brought to Pier 3. Along General Maxilom Avenue, he was told to speed up to avoid the men following the taxi.

The driver said he wanted to maneuver a right turn near a gasoline station in D. Jakosalem Street, but the assailants were already too close.

He said the backrider started shooting at Atega who was seated in the left side of the taxi’s back seat. Atega was beside his girlfriend Nenita.

The taxi driver said he slumped down in his chair and used the handbrake to stop the car. Then he heard more gunfire.

When his taxi stopped, the two assailants disembarked and fired through the window at Atega.

“Pwerti hinigoa kay si Atega raman ang naigo. Walay napagan (They were good shooters because they only hit Atega. No one else was wounded),” Alcordo said.

Homicide investigator Buenaventura Ursaiz said Atega sustained two bullet wounds in the head. Several empty shells of a .9mm pistol were recovered at the crime scene.

The gunman who was the backrider wore a green T-shirt and blue pants, and was about 5'8” in height. The motorcycle driver was about 5'4 tall and was wearing white T-shirt and faded pants.

After the shooting, the two killers boarded their motorcycle and drove off towards the reclamation area.

Mobile Patrol Group operator Angelo Zambo said policemen were unable to chase the culprits because no one gave a clear description of them or their getaway vehicle.

Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio Jr. dismissed speculation that the shooting was the handiwork of the police or vigilantes. He said a police investigation will still have to be conducted.

Meloy Garcia and five of his cohorts were arrested in Bohol following a robbery of the Bank of Commerce in Tagbilaran City, where a security guard was killed. They were arrested and charged with robbery with homicide but police said other gang members, including the group’s financier and mastermind, were still at large.
/with reports by Doris Bongcac and Jhunnex Napallacan
It's happening..., this was what i'm afraid of, one by one these robbers who were caught..will be killed... to shot their mouth up...so they won't be able to reveal who paid them to do their job. Somebody has got to do something.


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