Police arrested a man who was suspected to be one of the two who robbed a gasoline station in barangay Talamban, Cebu City at Thursday dawn.
Melvin Roble, 33, who was arrested in his home in sitio Beavers, barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City, denied the allegation.
“Wa gyud koy kalibutan ana. Bisan pangutan-on pa ninyo akong mga silingan (I have nothing to do with the robbery. You can ask my neighbors),” said Roble.
A .357 cal. revolver, a grenade and drug paraphernalia were reportedly found in his house.
Senior Supt. Noli Romana, chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said Roble was identified by witnesses. His image was allegedly captured by the establishment’s security camera.
Romana said Roble was previously arrested for robbery. He was released from jail last year.
The police chief added that he is allegedly a leader of a small-time robbbery gang.
“You know, pag nagigipit na tong mga to, back to usual. Bagong laya ang mga to. naghahanap ng mapagkakakitaan (Robbery suspects go back to what they do when they get released from jail. They look for livelihood),” said Romana.
Romana said the case is considered closed although the other culprit remains at large.
Police said Roble’s alleged cohort was the one who disarmed the gas station’s security guard Abeso Corredo.
Chief Insp. David Senior, chief of CCPO’s Theft and Robbery Section, said Roble was identified by the gas station’s pump boy as one of the robbers.
Roble was identified as the one wearing a helmet who took P18,000 cash from the cashier’s booth.
Supt. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch, said the suspect was made to wear a helmet when he was made to face the gas station attendant who tried to identify the perpetrators.
Romana said he believed that Roble was behind the series of jeepney robberies in the city.
“I would like to appeal to the public kung naging biktima sila, appear in our office,” said Romana.