Bacolod police arrest robbery, gun-for-hire suspect

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A man tagged by police as a notorious robber and gun-for-hire suspect was arrested after he allegedly posed as a woman online and robbed his chatmate in Barangay Banago on Wednesday.

Police Capt. Rosalino Pugoy Jr., head of Police Station 3, said the 29-year-old suspect, identified only by the alias “Pocholo,” met his chatmate and allegedly took the victim’s cellular phone and PHP 1,000 in cash.

The victim sought police assistance, and officers later arrested the suspect, although the stolen items were not recovered.

Pugoy said the suspect’s alleged modus was to pretend to be a woman online to lure potential victims into meeting him in person.

During the meetup, the suspect would allegedly threaten the victim with a gun and rob him, according to Pugoy.

Authorities also served the suspect a warrant of arrest for alleged violation of Sections 5, or sale of dangerous drugs, and 11, or possession of dangerous drugs, under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, after his probation was revoked.

The warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 47 in Bacolod City.

Pugoy said the suspect was allegedly involved in a series of robbery incidents in the city and in a recent shooting incident in the area covered by Police Station 3.

Police urged other possible victims to come forward and said they would be assisted in filing charges against the suspect.

Following the arrest, the Bacolod City Police Office said it is optimistic that robbery incidents in Banago and other parts of the city will decline significantly.

The city police force said it will continue its aggressive campaign against robbery and shooting suspects.