POLICE arrested five men who allegedly robbed a businessman inside his house in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City yesterday dawn.
The five suspects—four of whom reportedly have criminal records, according to the police—barged into the home of Victoriano Pagador, and tied and gagged the businessman and eight members of his household.
Armed with guns, the suspects took jewelry, P260,000 in cash and Pagador’s van.
They were arrested by the police after a chase and a shootout.
Cebu City Intelligence Branch Chief Romeo Santander identified the suspects as Junel Legarda, 39, of Lambunao in Iloilo City; Geronimo Moreno, 46, of Ladunab in Iloilo City; Jorex Fajardo, 38, of Calinog in Iloilo City; Roperto Corneja, 30, of Muntinlupa City; and Allan Dumabo, 32, of Barangay Basak, Cebu City.
Brains
Four of the men pointed to Dumabo, a former welder in Abu Dhabi, as their guide when they arrived in Cebu last Sunday. But they said that their leader is not Dumabo but someone who is close to Pagador, 61.
Santander said that they are investigating the mastermind of the robbery.
The suspects allegedly tied Pagador and eight others, including his children, grandchildren and household staff. They then went from room to room inside Pagador’s house in Gemsville Subdivision in Barangay Lahug.
Santander said that the suspects, except for Dumabo, were convicted of homicide, robbery and murder charges.
Pagador said that the suspects barged into their house after their househelp returned from Carbon Market, where the businessman’s wife has a meat store.
He said that he pleaded with the suspects not to hurt his family.
“Nagpakiluoy lang gyod ko nga ayaw sila lang panghilabti dinha. Kun unsa inyo gusto, kuhaa lang ninyo hurot. Dad-a lang na ang sakyanan. Ang butang makit-an ra man (I told them to take whatever they wanted, including the vehicle. We can always buy other things),” he recalled telling the suspects.
The cash, jewelry and other valuables were recovered by the police inside Pagador’s van.
The police also seized a sub-machine gun, a .45 pistol and two .38 revolvers from the suspects.
Pagador said that one of his household staff was able to free herself and alerted co-worker Jimmy Tachado, who was sleeping in a bunkhouse outside the main house.
Tuchado, the family driver, asked a friend who was passing by the Pagador residence at that time to inform the subdivision security guards.
Members of the Cebu City Police Office's Special Weapons and Tactics, Theft and Robbery Section, Investigation and Detection Management Branch, Mobile Patrol Group and Police Station 4 responded to the alarm and chased the suspects to Escario Extension, where the shootout occurred.