Romana
The Cebu City police is back to square one in solving the spate of robberies after the prime suspect in the crime spree turned out to be languishing in jail in Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental.
Senior Supt. Noli Romana, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, has confirmed that dismissed policeman Eugene Salingay is detained at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Reformatory Jail (MOPRJ) in Oroquieta City since Sept. 8 after he was arrested for theft.
On why Salingay has been tagged as one of the suspects who robbed money remittance centers and convenience stores, Romana said they based it from the description given by witnesses.
Romana said probably they would withdraw the case they filed against Salingay on the robbery that transpired in Western Union branch in barangay Guadalupe last Oct. 9.
“After September 8, maaring ma-off the hook siya nung isang kaso na fi-nile natin against him pero iyong iba, hindi pa,” said Romana.
The ex-policeman was detained in Danao City for robbery, after his arrest last Aug. 23. He was released after posting bail five days later.
Policemen from the Oroquieta City Police Office arrived in Cebu to serve Salingay’s arrest warrant for robbery with violence against persons issued by Oroquieta City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Silvestre Orejana, Jr.
New suspect
Romana said even when they confirmed the reports that Salingay is already in jail, they were not having a hard time identifying other suspects.
“Right now, meron kaming magandang lead sa kasama niya; kung makuha natin yong si Michael Baldemesa taga rito lang naman siya, siya yong local na contact,” said Romana.
After the alarming robbery incidents in Cebu, PRO-7 Deputy Regional Director, Senior Supt. Conrado Capa said they will conduct checkpoints to further curb robbery incidents.
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