One of 3 suspects in P1.6-M gas station robbery arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

One of the three suspects who broke into the office of a gasoline station on Tuesday was arrested on June 9, 2022 in Molo, Iloilo City.

Members of Iloilo City Police Stations 3 and 4 arrested 24-year-old Briant Naya at his house in Barangay West Habog-Habog.

Police also seized from his possession four sachets of suspected shabu, cash, and a motorcycle.

Captain Eduardo Siacon, ICPS3 chief, said Naya was positively identified as the person who scaled the ceiling of the office of Jetti Gasoline Station at Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro around 2:20 a.m. of June 7.

Initially, two persons were seen breaking into the gasoline station’s office.

But Siacon said another CCTV footage showed that the two suspects had a lookout who drove their getaway motorcycle.

Siacon identified Naya’s companions as Christopher Argonsula alias Tata and a certain Mark Galvez, also residents of Barangay West Habog-Habog.

Argonsula allegedly planned the burglary while Galvez served as their look-out.

The two were no longer home when police looked for them in a follow-up operation.

Jetti’s closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras showed that Naya and Argonsula tried to enter the gas station’s office through the main door.

They were carrying a mallet, grass cutter, and keys, among others.

Argonsula was the person seen destroying the knob using a screwdriver.

When his attempts failed, Naya went to the back door.

An air vent at the back door served as his entry point to the office. He crawled into the ceiling until he reached the office.

He then opened the main door for his companion.

The two suspects then destroyed the gasoline station’s improvised safe and took the P1.6 million cash.

But only P600,000 was recovered from Naya’s possession.

The arrested suspect claimed Argonsula only gave him P300,000.

“Gin-tumpok-tumpok man lang daw nila sang nagpartihanay na sila,” Siacon said quoting Naya.

The suspect claimed he didn’t complain about his share as it was Argonsula who planned the heist.

Meanwhile, Siacon said they are now preparing charges against Naya and his two companions, who remain at large as of this writing.