By CALVIN CORDOVA
CEBU CITY – At least 15 armed men ran off with at least P100-million worth of jewelry in a daring robbery staged inside a mall in Mandaue City, Cebu last Saturday.
The suspects stormed two jewelry stores and two money changer shops inside J-Center Mall around 7 p.m.
A few hours later, pursuing policemen arrested nine suspects aboard MV Maria Helena at Polambato Port in Bogo City, Cebu.
Four of the suspects were killed after they allegedly fought back with operatives of the Regional Special Operations Task Group-Central Visayas, said Police Col. Jonathan Abella, chief of the Mandaue City Police Office.
“After the robbery, we immediately alerted our counterparts in the whole province and that helped us intercept some of the suspects,” Abella said.
Police Major Emily Santos, Bogo police chief, identified the four slain suspects as Kevin Andales, 25, from Tangub City; Wilfredo Enguito, 47; Philip Taborada, and Glen Tairos.
Suspects currently in police custody are Roel Sumingit, 35; from Tangub City; Jun Candelaria, 38, from Naga City, Bicol; Julivy Quirante, 43, Tangub City; Arnel Cimafranca, 38, and a still unidentified man.
Police investigation showed that the robbers entered the mall through separate entrances.
Police said the robbers were armed with long and short firearms and used hammers to smash the display cases of the jewelry shops.
Abella said they are still investigating how the robbers were able to enter the mall without being detected that they were bringing firearms.
Shots were fired as the robbers ransacked the shops, sending shoppers scampering for safety.
A security guard of one of the jewelry shops was injured after he was beaten up by the robbers.
Police said the robbers fled on motorcycles and a Toyota Innova with license plates ZEM-489.
It was past 11 p.m. when the Innova was spotted arriving in a wharf in Barangay Polambato.
Police sought assistance from the Coast Guard-Central Visayas in intercepting the men on board the Innova.
Seized from the suspects were a. 38 caliber revolver, cellular phones, and cash.
Police said the four slain suspects were about to be brought to the police station when they grappled for firearms, forcing the policemen to fire shots.
Police said it was possible that the stolen jewelry were with the other robbers, who remain at large. (Calvin D. Cordova)
