ILOILO – One of the three suspects in the holdup incident in Pototan town last week was arrested in Sitio Caburihan, Barangay Carmelo, Banate town.
The 32-year-old Lancer Peña was taken to the Pototan police station after witnesses positively identified him as among the three men who supposedly robbed two employees of a cargo express in Barangay Rumbang, Pototan on July 29.
They tagged him as the one who snatched the backpack (containing the P1.7 million cash) of Mila Mhar Gente, finance administrative officer of the cargo express, according Police Major Ciriaco Enquilarga, Pototan police chief. Gente was riding on a motorcycle driven Egardo Abido that time.
Esquilarga said despite Peña wearing a facemask, Gente identified him when he was presented.
The Pototan police chief told Panay News that Peña was identified through the “rogues gallery” of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
Peña was reportedly jailed for six months in 2010 for robbery with frustrated homicide that happened in Banate town.
However, the suspect settled his case, insisting that he was with his group, and had not participated in the crime.
“Aside from his robbery with frustrated homicide case, he was also a suspect in some other robbery cases in Iloilo province that’s why our witnesses were able to identify him when they saw his picture in IPPO,” Esquilarga said.
Gente and Avido were supposed to deposit money in a bank in Pototan. While their motorcycle was moving, two of the three suspects crossed the road then suddenly pulled Gente’s backpack causing her to reportedly stumble down.
At gunpoint, the two suspects grabbed the backpack then rode on a motorcycle driven by another suspect who was allegedly on standby.
The three suspects were seen headed to Barotac Nuevo town.
On the other hand, Peña denied his participation in the incident, saying he was in their house playing online sabong.
He said he voluntarily surrendered after learning that his name was implicated in the Pototan heist and clarified he was not arrested as what the Pototan police claimed.
He, however, admitted that he was once jailed.
Meanwhile, the police would be filing robbery case against Peña despite his denial.
“We are looking for the two others,” said Esquilarga./PN
