Cops hunt suspects in Belgian’s rob-slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino and Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is zeroing in on the suspects in the robbery and killing of a Belgian national at Villa Angela, Barangay Villamonte here Wednesday morning.

Col. Henry Biñas, BCPO director, said the suspects in the killing of Carl Nolens, 76, belong to a notorious robbery group operating in Negros.

Biñas said he has directed investigators to thoroughly probe the incident and give justice to the victim.

He also sought the help of other PNP units in the island such as the Regional Intelligence Division, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Regional Drug Enforcement Unit.

Nolens was shot dead by four unidentified men who robbed his house around 1:50 a.m.

Police Major Charles Gever, head of Police Station 4, said the robbers entered the victim’s house through the sliding window in the second floor of his residence.

The brother of the foreigner’s wife, who was sleeping in the living room, initially sensed the armed robbers, prompting the latter to hogtie his legs and brought him to the maid’s quarters, Gever said.

The robbers then searched the other rooms for valuables until the foreigner woke up because of the noise.

It was followed by a burst of gunfire. The armed robbers, who were wearing face masks fled, allegedly bringing with them a bag containing a cellular phone, P20,000 cash, and a pair of shades, Gever said.

The victim’s wife also woke up and tried to escape by jumping from their balcony. She was injured.

The maid and the brother of the foreigner’s wife were unharmed.

Nolens was declared dead at a hospital due to three gunshot wounds in the abdomen, Gever added.

Police recovered from the scene four fired ammunition cartridges, a live ammunition, and an empty shell of .45-caliber ammunition.

Gever said that they already have persons of interest and they will check the copy of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage to possibly identify them.

Meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he instructed the police to apprise him “every step of the way on the developments and progress of the investigation” which he considers an utmost concern and priority.

Leonardia instructed the police to intensify police presence and deployment to prevent a similar incident.

The police have already zeroed in on some principal suspects and are on hot pursuit of the same, he said.

The mayor condoled with the family of the victim, as he assured them of the city’s involvement and assistance in the resolution of the case at the soonest possible time.

Biñas said in a press statement that the perpetrators belong to a notorious robbery group operating in the island of Negros, including Negros Oriental.

Biñas said that he directed Gever and the investigators on the case to conduct an in-depth investigation to give justice to the death of the victim.

On the other hand, two robbery incidents were also reported in the areas of Kabankalan City and Cauayan town in Negros Occidental on June 13 and 15, respectively, carting away P220,000 cash.