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Saturday, September 24, 2005
Tining tied to robbery
By Mia E. Abellana
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
The “twist to the whole drama” of the P9.4-million Land Bank of the Philippines robbery in Bogo, Cebu was revealed by a suspect yesterday morning.
After arriving from Masbate yesterday, Dindo Ancero tagged Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Mar-tinez III as the financier while Joel Sumabong, said to be the mayor’s bodyguard, gave the instructions prior to the heist last Aug. 2.
Martinez, in a press conference, denied the allegations, saying he does not even know Ancero or Sumabong, the alleged gang leader.
But late last night, Ancero reportedly retracted his statements linking the mayor to the heist. Lawyer Salvador Solima, in an interview with radio dyAB, also said Ancero and two other suspects arrested in Masbate last Tuesday did not directly implicate Martinez.
In a press conference last Thursday, Acting Cebu Provincial Police Director Vicente Loot told reporters that the arrest of the three led to information that would add a twist to the events, but declined to say if this was related to politics.
‘Goon’
Ancero, who claimed he was the driver of the Nissan Vanette used as getaway vehicle, revealed that he was a “goon” employed by the Martinezes during the last elections.
He even told Loot that he was one of 18 goons assigned in Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan, where Loot’s wife Maria Luisa, won as mayor under an opposing party.
He said Sumabong recruited him and that he was paid P500 every time he was ordered to do something.
Ancero said he was forced to reveal this because he received information from Martinez supporters who were his friends that the Martinez camp was willing to shell out P1 million if only to get rid of him and Sumabong.
He learned this after the arrest of other robbery suspects, Henry Cuerda, one of the bank’s security guards at the time of the robbery, and Joseph “Jojo” Ancajas.
Ancero said he noticed a car following him wherever he went, prompting him to leave for his hometown in Sitio Anagon, Barangay Cabungahan, Cawayan, Masbate.
Meals
Ancero also revealed that Tining’s chief security officer, Cristituto Yee, guaranteed the robbery group’s meals a month before the incident.
Yee allegedly told them that while they were camped at the Department of Public Works and Highways building in Lapas, Bogo, they could get their meals from the Bogo Multi-Purpose Cooperative, set up by the municipality.
Yee denied this in a press conference with Martinez. He said he provided Sumabong food in July at the multi-purpose cooperative because the latter asked for a job.
Yee said he does not know Ancero.
Ancero, meanwhile, cleared Ceferino Serbano, one of the 12 men charged with the robbery. He said Serbano did not participate in the robbery and that it was Sumabong who often borrowed his vehicles.
Although the police team that conducted the operation in Cawayan, Masbate arrested Ancero with two other companions, Ancero said the two were not involved in the robbery.
Witnesses
Isagani “Tagalog” Chico, 31, of Acacia, Malabon, Metro Manila and Felix Aborres, 24, of Paknaan, Mandaue City, were arrested along with Ancero at 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Ancero was one of those named in the arrest warrant issued by Bogo Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Marigomen.
He was also in possession of a .38 revolver at the time of the arrest.
Chief Insp. Juanito Enguerra said the two had a pack of what they claimed was “tawas” or sodium alum.
To be sure, police brought this as evidence and submitted it to the Regional Crime Laboratory to have it tested, in case it is shabu.
The two will also be shown to the witnesses of the robbery.
If they are identified, they will be included in the charge for robbery in band.
Supt. Loot assured that if the witnesses say the two were not part of the robbery, they will be escorted back to Masbate.
Driver
Enguerra said it was Ancero’s brother who told police that Ancero could be found in Masbate.
Ancero, who grew up in Malingin, Bogo, admitted he knew Cuerda but was unfamiliar with Ancajas.
He said he did not receive a centavo of the P9.4 million and suspects thatSumabong ran away with the entire amount.
Before he became a Martinez “goon,” Ancero said he drove a jeepney.
He also used to drive for Serbano until April this year.
Asked if he was not apprehensive about implicating Martinez, Ancero said he was ready to face the consequences of his statements.
Enguerra said the arrest was all part of Case Operational Plan: Redcoin, which was drafted under the term of Senior Supt. Drusillo Bolodo and approved by Police Regional Office 7 Director Eduardo Gador.
(September 24, 2005 issue)
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