Driver of rented car involved in robbery-hold up nabbed

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – One of the three suspects behind the robbery hold-up incident in Barangay Villamonte here last Tuesday was arrested in pursuit operations at Purok Cereza, Barangay 2 here on the same day.

Police Lieutenant Rondyl Tapang, head of Police Station 4, identified the suspect as Cyrus Canlas, 23, of Purok Sigay, Barangay 2 here.

Personnel of Police Station 4, in coordination with the City Intelligence Unit and Police Station 2 arrested Canlas around 8 p.m.

Tapang said Canlas was the driver of a rented Toyota Innova which was abandoned by the suspects at Barangay 35 after they allegedly robbed at gunpoint two men at Barangay Villamonte.

Police recovered from Canlas the key of the rented car, but the stolen cellular phone and P580 cash were already missing.

Tapang said they found out that the suspects used toy guns when they committed the crime, but it was not recovered from Canlas during his arrest.

Canlas was identified by a man who rented the vehicle from a rent-a-car firm.

“The one who rented the vehicle was the alleged brother of his former girlfriend,” he added.

Tapang said Canlas was allowed by the car borrower to use the vehicle, as he will visit his relatives in Sagay City. The latter did not know that the suspect used it to commit a crime, he added.

He said the car borrower committed a violation with the rent-a-car firm after he lent the vehicle to another person, but such offense will be settled by both parties while the police will focus on the robbery hold-up incident that happened.

Canlas was previously jailed for a drug-relatedoffense but he was released on a plea bargaining deal three months ago.

He said Canlas’s two other companions, who are residents of Barangay 35 are still at large.

Meanwhile, Canlas, during the media interview, admitted his involvement in the incident, claiming that poverty pushed him to commit such offense.

“First time ko ni ginhimo. Naghinulsol gid ko,” he said.

He said he was supposed to visit his family in Sagay City, when he tagged along with the two other unidentified suspects, whom he claimed he didn’t know.

Canlas is detained at Police Station 4 and will be charged for robbery hold-up.