By Chito Aragon
The Philippine Daily InquirerSenior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr. said the robbery and kidnapping group of Casimiro “Meloy†Garcia is backed by a financier in Manila.
But the Cebu City police chief declined to reveal the financier’s name until strong proof is ready.
In his report, Comendador said the group was first organized in Metro Manila headed by Roy Fernandez, a reported member of the Kuratong Baleleng robbery gang.
Fernandez’s group was allegedly behind the kidnapping of Ryan Yu, a student at an exclusive school in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
After Fernandez split from the Kuratong Baleleng gang, he recruited Harris Atega and Garcia to form his own group. When an internal conflict arose between Garcia and Fernandez last year, Garcia and Atega returned to Bohol and formed their own group.
Comendador said based on the group's well-equipped crime operations, it is “likely†that the Garcia group is backed by a Manila-based financier.
He said the group is equipped with baby armalite rifles, UZI Ingram, .9 mm pistol, Lite Ace Van, Toyota Corolla, and motorcycles.
Robbery crime statistics show that the Garcia group was involved in the following robberies at Du Ek Sam, near Vic Enterprises; Bacong Rural Bank in Minglanilla, and the robbery of a Metrobank armored van.
But Comendador said they were able to foil the group's plan to rob Prince Warehouse (Mandaue), Prince Pardo, Fulda Kelly Tires (North Reclamation Area), Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI)-Osmena Boulevard branch, Union Bank, and an armored car withdrawing cash in Ayala.
Comendador said he will check if Garcia and his cohorts have pending warrants of arrests for these charges.
Garcia was arrested Tuesday evening shortly after they held up the Bank of Commerce in Tagbilaran City.
Also arrested were Cresencio Reguya and Aniceto Nuez. Still at large are Arsenio Polo and Danilo Flores.
The Garcia group was also tagged as responsible for the P2.7 million robbery in La Nueva Supermart two weeks ago.
Their alleged cohort in the La Nueva robbery, Rodolfo Atega, 21, who was also identified as one of the robbers in the P2.5 million Penbank robbery was arrested Wednesday in San Miguel town in Bohol.
Atega also allegedly robbed Jimmy Motano of P12,000 in barangay Sambag Dos.
Atega has denied any involvement in the robberies.
“Wa koy labot anang mga tulis,†Atega told reporters.
He said during the PenBank robbery on July 23, he was in his hometown doing house chores.
Atega’s brother, Harris who was reportedly involved with Garcia’s group was killed in January this year in Sambag Dos. He said a certain Albert Almedilla killed his brother who is the “right†hand of Fernandez, former leader of their group.
Despite his denial, Comendador said based on information gathered, Atega was involved in bank robberies in Das Marines, Cavite and Sta. Cruz, an armored van robbery in Montalban, the kidnapping of Yu, and an armored van robbery in Mandaluyong.
Comendador said they are still coordinating with other law enforcement agencies if Atega has any pending warrant of arrest.
Atega was committed to the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center yesterday afternoon after Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia issued the commitment order.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jonas Cortes vowed to give a cash reward to those who had tipped the police which led to the arrest of Atega. But he did not say how much will be the reward.
He said giving a reward will encourage witnesses to give information against lawless elements.
He added that the public should not rely only on the police because police in Mandaue City are undermanned.
Cortes also asked Mandate City Police Director Alexander Badinages to study the alarm system to be installed in major establishments, especially banks, in the city.
-With a report from Chris A. LiganLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=3925.0
Topic: Bohol Robbery Group backed by a Manila financier? (Read 1187 times)