Quick
police response teams arrested four of five robbery suspects who victimized two
American nationals in Panglao in a hot pursuit last Monday night.
The
victims, identified as David Neisz and wife, Ginelda, were having dinner around
7:30 Monday evening in their residence in barangay Lourdes, Panglao town with
guests John Wolley and girlfriend Rowena when five armed men broke into their
house through a backdoor and ordered them to stay still.
The
robbers immediately divested the victims of their valuables and various cash amounts
with an estimated total of P240,000. The items included 3 cellular phones worth
P37,000, 3 wedding rings amounting to P45,000, a laptop worth P125,000, a necklace
worth P9,000, a wrist watch valued at $650.
According
to the victims, the suspects could have ran off using motorcycles since they noticed
one of them bearing a helmet.
Because
of the immediate reporting to the police by the victims, joint police operatives
in the towns of Panglao, Dauis, Tagbilaran and elements of the Provincial Intelligence
and Investigation Branch (PIIB) were able to arrest 4 of the 5 suspects barely
3 hours after the incident.
Panglao
police were able to arrest around 9 o'clock Monday night the first suspect identified
as Lauro Namoco Jr., 32, also a resident of barangay Lourdes in said town. Namoco
was identified based on a description given by Ginelda who saw the suspect when
he bought cigarettes in the victim's store a day before the incident. Namoco was
positively identified by the other victims as one of the perpetrators. One of
the victims said Namoco was wearing the same shirt during the break-in.
After
police interrogation, Namoco identified one of his cohorts as Henry Calihat, resident
of barangay Libaong, Panglao.
The
duo are both police characters Namoco being an ex-convict who was imprisoned for
murder while Calihat have been previously arrested for illegal possession and
discharge of firearm.
A
Tagbilaran City police team led by Insp. Miguel Jimenez were able to track down
Calihat in Ubujan district (near the Monastery), this city, and collared the suspect
together with two others identified as Orlando Subica, 45, a native of San Miguel
town and Tommy Merca, 30, a native of Tamgangan, Loay town.
Calihat,
an army reservist, allegedly tried to elude arrest after seeing the police team.
Police are still in hot pursuit of another still unidentified suspect who
remain at large. Police
believe that the stolen items are in the hands of the said suspect whom the four
refused to identify.
After
a tactical interrogation at Camp Dagohoy yesterday, the four suspects deny involvement
in said crime even as they were positively identified by the victim's wife.
According
to PIIB operatives one of the suspects was wearing David Neisz sandals which they
will be using as evidence.
The
four suspects are currently locked up at the Panglao municipal jail while formal
robbery charges were filed against the suspects yesterday. | 
