Christmas Robbery Suspect Nabbed

Naga City (27 December 2010) -- Two robbery-holdups were reported by the Police Provincial Office on Christmas eve, with two suspects later apprehended and charged with armed-robbery.

The Minalabac town PNP reported today that identified armed-robbery suspect, Gilbert Abonalla of Sagrada, Minalabac was arrested by a police team led by SP04 Antonio Danabar.

Reportedly, Abonalla were among three suspects identified during an armed-robbery of a comprada warehouse owned by Edlyn Balbastro in Minalabac, Camarines Sur last Christmas eve.

Caretaker at the warehouse, Eduardo Laurente Jr., 22 claimed the three suspects who were armed with Cal. 38 revolvers, took some P 36,800 in cash from the warehouse office; he also told the police that he recognized another suspect as Jose Laurente Cervantes, his own relative.

Laurente sustained minor injuries when the suspects struck him with the handle of their handguns.

Meanwhile, a Naga policeman is now recuperating from stab-wound after he survived the attacks of three armed men during a holdup incident along the Maharlika Highway in Palestina, Pili town.

SP02 Eliseo Palaroan, 48, of Naga precinct no. 2 had sustained a stab-wound at the back after three suspects tailed the victim who was riding his motorcycle with his two passengers along the dark portion of the highway.

The suspects who were also riding motorcycles, grabbed the bags of the two lady back-riders, Clarissa Bichara, 43, and Vivian Velasco, 45, resulting to Palaroan’s motorcycle to fall on the highway.

The suspects then stabbed the policeman at the back, taking his Cal. 45 pistol and a lady’s bag.

Barangay Tanod members in Palestina, Pili responded during the incident prompting the suspects to flee in their motorcycles and leave a companion behind in haste, who was identified as Arnold Tribiana, 41, of Concepcion Grande, Naga City.

The Pili Municipal Station had charged Tribiana with armed robbery, while the police recovered a Cal. 45 pistol; an ARMSCOR Cal. 38 revolver loaded with five bullets and an empty shell; and the stolen items which consist of a Nokia cellphone, two gold bracelets and a gold ring. (SONNY SALES)