55-year old Sisino Merced Deiparine was captured during a continuous hot pursuit operation near his residence in Sitio Kilawan, Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
One of the suspects in the foiled Avon outlet robbery in Tabunok, Talisay City was arrested Monday afternoon in his small store in barangay Tangke.
Sisinio Merced, 55, of barangay Cansojong, Talisay was positively identified by a witness, said police.
Another perpetrator who shot dead the security guard Ramel Bono remains at large.
Supt. Reycel Carmelo Dayon, Talisay City police chief, said their investigation showed that the robbers were local boys contrary to their initial theory.
Based on the video footage of the store’s closed circuit television camera (CCTV), Merced acted as the lookout in the September 11 robbery attempt in an Avon outlet in barangay Tabunok.
He entered the establishment upon seeing his companion almost pinned down by the guard.
He was the one who reportedly shot Bono in the stomach while his companion shot the guard in the head.
Jun dela Cruz, the cashier on duty during the heist, was the one who identified Merced.
“Nag-atubang man ming duha, usa siya namusil sa gwardiya sa tiyan. Unya nagkalo pod siya ug t-shirt,” dela Cruz said. (We faced each other before he shot the guard in the stomach. He was wearing a cap and t-shirt at that time.)
Police did not recover any firearm, only a white bull cap which was believed to be the one he wore during the heist.
But the suspect vehemently denied the allegations saying he was at home on Sept. 11.
Merced was previously convicted for a drug case but is out on parole.
Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO), commended the Talisay City Police for the solution of the Avon robbery attempt.
Merced, who was in handcuffs, was presented by the police yesteday. He was made to stand near the LCD screen where the video footage of the robbery attempt was played.
Gillamac said the images of one of the holduppers matched Merced’s built, facial features, gestures and the way he walks.
The positive identification of the witness also reinforced the police charge. Merced will be subjected to a paraffin test to determine if he has fired a gun lately.
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