An armed man, who was linked to the Bogo mall robbery, was killed last Thursday in a shootout with provincial policemen in front of a fast-food outlet in Consolacion town, northern Cebu.
Arnold Torion died in the exchange of gunfire with Cebu Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) policemen who were there to arrest him at around 10 p.m. in front of Jollibee Consolacion.
Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, PIB chief, said Torion was identified as one of the persons seen on the security video footage during the Gaisano Mall heist last month.
Albotra said they spotted Torion in Consolacion and moved in to arrest him.
But as they approached Torion, he allegedly opened fire on the policemen, forcing them to shoot back, fatally hitting him in the body.
A .45 caliber pistol was recovered from Torion’s possession at the crime scene.
Albotra alleged that Torion was a gun-for-hire and a member of the Sumabong robbery group, whom his office suspected to be responsible for the spate of robberies in northern Cebu including the Bogo robberies last month.
He said that Sumabong group is also involved in the illegal drug trade and its members are armed with guns.
Albotra also denied allegations that they salvaged Torion.
He said the operation against Torion was a legitimate police action.