Cops nab four robbers in Kabankalan

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Kabankalan City Police Station in Negros Occidental is probing four persons who were arrested last Friday following another robbery of a cafe in Barangay Oringao last Thursday.

Police identified the suspects as Juniel Batomalaki, 20, his brother Tony Batomalaki, 50, and a relative Jonel Batomalaki, 19, and Lade Balbon, 50, all residents of Barangay Oringao.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Cruz, city police chief, said the suspects allegedly carted away packs of instant coffee and a cellular phone in a cafe after they failed to steal money from the establishment.

However, some witnesses were able to identify them that led to their arrest through a hot pursuit operation.

Cruz said the suspects were arrested at their houses, but Juny Romano, 25, of Barangay Oringao is still at large.

Cruz said these suspects were also reportedly those responsible behind the robbery incident in the city last month.

Police are also investigating if they were the same suspects in two robbery incidents victimizing clients of a pension house and employees of a cooperative early this month.

Cruz said these suspects were reported to be armed but they denied possessing any firearms as no guns were recovered from them during their apprehension.

Cruz believed that these individuals were not part of any criminal group, but just striking if there’s an opportunity.

He said that robbery charges will be filed against the trio.