A ROBBERY suspect died while another was arrested shortly after preying on passengers of a Colon St.-bound jeepney in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City at noon yesterday.
The two declared a hold-up while the jeepney driven by Marsolito S. Reposilo was traveling near the National Statistics Office (NSO) 7 on M. J. Cuenco Ave.
The police identified them as Romulo L. Ligan, 41, and Gerry “Nonoy” Bayno, 28, both of Ponce Compound, Barangay Carreta.
Ligan was an ex-convict, having spent two years at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa and 13 years at the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan.
Intelligence
Convicted for three counts of highway robbery, he was freed just last July.
Unknown to him and Bayno, an intelligence operative of Carcar town police was driving his multicab and noticed the robbery.
SPO1 Meliton Agadier Jr., 43, intercepted them as they disembarked from the jeepney after robbing the passengers.
Attack
Agadier managed to collar Ligan, and ordered Bayno to surrender.
Instead of giving himself up, however, Bayno allegedly attacked him with a kitchen knife, prompting Agadier to shoot with his 9mm pistol.
Hit in the side, Bayno was rushed to Cebu City Medical Center, where he died past 1 p.m. yesterday.
In an interview with reporters, Ligan admitted robbing the Mabolo-Colon jeepney with route number 03A, and divesting the cash and valuables of at least five passengers.
Loot
Recovered from him were three watches, a cellular phone, two wallets, one pouch with makeup kit and coin purse inside, one gold bracelet and a pair of gold earrings.
Two knives, including that which Bayno used in attacking Agadier, were recovered by responding Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) policemen.
Complaints
Reposilo, who brought his passengers to the TRS office to complain, said, in an interview, that Bayno and Ligan boarded his vehicle near the Lorega-San Miguel public market.
When they reached M. J. Cuenco, Bayno and Ligan suddenly brandished knives and announced a robbery.
Agadier noticed what was happening and discretely observed the suspects until they got out of the jeepney.
Agadier said Ligan immediately dropped his hunting knife, but Bayno allegedly attacked him with a kitchen knife, forcing him to fire.
Robbery complaints will be filed against Ligan today. (JST)
