POLICE yesterday cleared the two men whom they arrested Monday on suspicion that they were the ones who robbed a travel agency in Mandaue City after witnesses said they had nothing to do with the crime.
Jillson Totoy, 39 and Roy Malinao, 37 of barangay Talamban in Cebu City were named as suspects after they sped past a road block set up by the Mandaue City Police Office after a robbery in progress alert was declared.
Malinao, who was driving the motorcycle, was arrested in a hardware shop while Totoy managed to flee.
Malinao denied involvement in the robbery, claiming he sped past the checkpoint as his student driver’s permit has expired and he had no helmet on. Police seized a folding knife from his possession.
Totoy meanwhile, surrendered to the police last night after he saw the news on TV implicating him in the robbery at 17 Twenty One Travel Shop.
The two were presented before the travel agency’s owner, Jimmy Lumogdang, 36, and staffers, Lovely Joy Santilan and Ma. Luchie Arias, who told the police they were not the ones who barged into their office.
Totoy was immediately released from detention. Malinao however, will remain in jail and will be charged with possession of deadly weapon.