Cops nab notorious robber

MAGALANG -- Joint elements of the town and Mabalacat City police apprehended a notorious robbery suspect during a hot pursuit Friday morning in Barangay Santo Rosario here.

Marpie “Benggoy” Viray Nuqui, 21, of Santa Lucia Resettlement Center, and his 18-year-old male companion were arrested around 9:30 a.m. after allegedly robbing a grocery store at the Madapdap Resettlement Center in Mabalacat City.

Superintendent Ferdinand Perez, town’s police chief, said they seized a .45 caliber gun and a sachet of marijuana from Nuqui.

Some P50,000 cash and P100,000 worth of jewelry were reportedly stolen from the KJ grocery store.

Perez said they received an alarm from the Mabalacat City police, headed by Superintendent Rodney Raymond Louie J. Baloyo IV, stating that two robbery suspects on board a tricycle headed toward the Mabalacat-Magalang road.

Nuqui was charged with robbery and drug possession before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, according to Perez.

Owners of KJ grocery store positively identified the suspects as the ones who robbed the establishment.

Perez said Nuqui and his group are believed to be responsible in a series of robberies here and in Mabalacat City.

Magalang Mayor Romulo Pecson lauded the good cooperation of the two police forces in pursuing criminal elements.

Pecson stressed the town officials’ concern on the peace and order here as the local government is projecting the municipality as a tourist and investor haven.

In a recent peace and order council meeting, Perez said Pecson directed the town police to go after robbers riding-in-tandem and drug personalities.

Last month, at least three suspected drug personalities and two wanted persons (Number 4 and 8) were arrested by the town police, Perez said. (Reynaldo G. Navales)