Thursday, August 30, 2007 (Philippines)
The fifth man in the “Meloy†Garcia gang, Rodolfo Atega, is escorted by Cebu City cops who were sent to Bohol to arrest him. Firearms seized from Atega. His arrest followed the fall of four other members of the gang blamed for the robberies in Cebu City and Bohol.
kiala mo ani??? ako wala.. Thursday, August 30, 2007
Fifth suspect found in Bohol
By Jovy S. Taghoy
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE main suspect in the P2.5-million heist of Peninsula Rural Bank (Penbank) last Aug. 21 in Mandaue City was arrested yesterday in Bohol by a four-man team from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
Rodulfo Atega, 21, was arrested past 7 a.m. in his house in Poblacion, San Miguel, Bohol Province based on a warrant for robbery issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Fortunato de Gracia last Tuesday.
Atega’s capture was made less than 24 hours after the arrest of robbery group leader Casimero “Meloy†Atega and three other members identified as Cresencio “Bruts†Reguya, a former civilian military volunteer, Gilven Nuez and Sofronio Remoreras.
Garcia’s group was arrested after shooting it out with the security guards of Bank of Commerce in Tagbilaran City that they had just robbed last Tuesday.
Supt. Pablo Labra II, team leader of the four-man team sent by acting CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador to implement the arrest warrant, said Atega did not resist arrest during the operation.
The team was aided by elements of the San Miguel Police Station.
The arrest warrant against Atega is not in relation with the Penbank robbery but for allegedly robbing trader Jimmy Montaño of P12,000 cash last Feb. 28, 2007 in Sambag 2, Cebu City.
A bail of P100,000 is recommended for Atega.
From San Miguel, Bohol, the police team took Atega to Cebu City yesterday afternoon on board an inter-island vessel.
Atega has been tagged in the robberies of Vic Enterprises in Mabolo last April 20, Public Savings Bank along N. Bacalso Ave. last June 29, and Ormoc Bank in Mandaue City last Dec. 13, 2006.
Comendador said, Atega was also named in a bank robbery in Dasmariñas, Cavite and a robbery in Sta. Cruz, Manila all in 2003; armored van robbery in Montalban, Rizal, kidnapping of one Ryan Yu in an exclusive school with a ransom money of P2.9 million and the P3-million heist of an armored van in Imus, Cavite all in 2005.
Atega, who was presented to reporters yesterday, denied involvement in any of the robberies implicating him as one of the perpetrators.
He also denied being a member of the Casimero Garcia Robbery Group. He, however, admitted knowing Garcia because the latter was his schoolmate in high school in San Miguel.
Atega said it was not him but his brother Harris, who was gunned down last January on Tormis St., Sambag 1, who belonged to the robbery group.
It was Garcia who informed him and his family about the killing of Harris, he said.
He has not gone to Cebu for a long time already.
Atega said he has several witnesses to support his assertion that he was in San Miguel, Bohol when the robberies in Metro Cebu took place.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. said merit or efficiency medals are expected to be given to operatives responsible for the arrest of the robbery group.
However, he advised his men to stay alert as crimes will still be committed. He said other group may exploit the situation and take the opportunity to victimize establishments.
“We will not bring our guards down,†Alarcio said.
He said the arrest of the robbery group only proves that vigilance of the community, support of the LGU and the police doing its job is effective against criminality.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria, during the monthly Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis forum yesterday said the Garcia group is neutralized but some members remain unaccounted for.
Valmoria did not discount the possibility they will create another group.
Comendador, during the same forum, supported Valmoria’s stand.
“The important thing is the police will do their job,†he said. (JST)
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