By RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – A former police officer suspected to be involved in several crimes in northern Iloilo was arrested in a police hot pursuit operation in Sara town on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
Lyman John Ochenta of Poblacion Sur, Balasan, Iloilo was identified by a J&T Express employee as the one who robbed her of the company’s P1.1-million cash collection.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Norlan Perante, chief of the Sara Municipal Police Station (MPS), Ochenta was formerly assigned in Iloilo’s 5th District but was dismissed because of a drug-related case.
“During that time 2018, diri siya na assign sa Sara. Na-involve siya sa illegal drugs, the reason nga gin-dismiss siya sang PRO-6,” said Perante.
Police said the suspect was also facing another robbery case about a month ago and is under monitoring for being an alleged “gun for hire”.
“Wala na siya permanente nga trabaho that is why makita ni siya sa mga neighboring towns diri sa 5th District. Kag te muna ang iya nga ubra, involved siya permi sa robbery hold-up,” Perante added.
He was also allegedly involved in the so-called “Carles Piracy” case. A security guard and his four companions who had just withdrew money for the salaries of employees on Sicogon Island were robbed of P320,000. The security guard was also killed.
“Gin file-lan ini siya Qualified Piracy sang Carles police, kag ginaduha duha-an man nga involved man sa pagpang-ransack sa Gaisano Balasan (mall),” said Perante.
The said mall in Barangay Mamhut, Balasan, Iloilo was burglarized. Over P5 million worth of jewelry and cellular phones were stolen on Dec. 5.
Ochenta is being detained at the Sara police station./PN
