By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) got “teased” after publicly announcing manhunt operations against members of a robbery group that staged at least four heists since December 2019.
Police Colonel Roland Vilela, Iloilo police chief, made the announcement on Monday claiming that they have already identified at least four active members of the Libuna Robbery Group.
But on Wednesday, the group allegedly staged another heist. Four persons on board two motorcycles robbed a 30-year-old man who was waiting for a ride at Barangay Abangay, Dingle town.
One of the backriders allegedly alighted from the motorcycle and robbed Vic Raul Sabi Jr. at gunpoint. The gunman took his wallet containing P2,000 cash, a mobile phone, and backpack.
Vilela believed that the suspects are part of the group they are hunting.
He earlier said the group’s members could go as high as six and they operate in the central part of Iloilo.
Prior to yesterday’s incidents, Vilela said the Libuna group committed at least four robbery incidents in Lambunao, Dueñas, Passi City, and Dingle since Dec 12, 2019.
On Saturday, several police units launched an operation to arrest the suspect.
Members of the IPPO Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) team, IPPO Intelligence Branch, and the local police station went to a far-flung village in Janiuay town.
Although not one member of the robbery group was arrested, they collared the suspects’ mother and charged her for obstruction of justice.
Vilela said they did not pursue the suspects as the place was considered a “red area” due to sightings of rebels.
“We have to get them. Hindi lang sila nangho-hold-up but they also hurt their victims,” he said.
The group was also involved in motornapping.
But Vilela clarified that the Libuna group is different from persons behind Akyat-Bahay or burglary operations that targeted houses of overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
