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Thursday, July 26, 2007
Killing of rob suspect a rubout, say police
CEBU CITY -- The robbery suspect shot dead in Barangay Carreta Tuesday afternoon had squealed on his cohorts, revealing several planned robberies, and was being considered to be a state witness.
Brando Babao, police said, was likely killed by fellow gang members. But what puzzled police, however, was how gang members got wind of Babao’s statements when his confession was kept confidential.
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Lapu-Lapu City Police Chief Louie Oppus said he intended to recommend Babao to be a state witness against their gang’s mastermind, who recruited members from splinter robbery groups in Cebu.
“He told us many things. From admission of many robberies to a scheduled date when to strike in two banks, three hardware stores and a super mart in downtown Cebu City,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Oppus said Babao even left him a sketch of downtown Cebu City, showing Magallanes Street and all the roads that cross it. On the sketch, he marked six establishments, including two banks and a super mart, targeted for robberies.
The sketch also indicated they were recruiting insiders to help them in the robberies.
“I have no doubt that Babao was killed because he told us vital information. But I could not figure out how these people were able to learn of what Babao had told us,” Oppus said.
He said some of Babao’s admissions contradicted the statement of Felixberto “Mamerto” or “Jun” Aldemita, who is suspected to be the group’s leader.
Oppus said it did not occur to him to offer Babao protection because his confession was kept confidential.
During interrogation, Babao admitted involvement in the robbery and killing of two Korean nationals in Lapu-Lapu City, a couple in Guadalupe, Carcar, robberies of gasoline stations and several hardware stores in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and Cordova town.
Acting Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Carmelo Valmoria, meanwhile, said he also believes that Babao was shot by fellow gang members.
Valmoria confirmed that Babao cooperated with police and gave them “lots of information” on the robbery gang.
Babao was among four people arrested by police last Friday for illegal possession of firearms. He posted bail on Tuesday and was on his way home on a taxi when he was shot by two men on a motorcycle. He died of multiple gunshot wounds, mostly on the head.
Acting Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador, in a separate interview, said he ordered the Homicide Section, headed by Insp. Mario Monilar, to coordinate with Lapu-Lapu City policemen to help in the investigation.
Two witnesses to the killing, including a 12-year-old ambulant vendor, are helping police in the investigation.
Police, however, said the witnesses failed to see their faces because the two men covered these with black cloth.
Comendador said police cannot determine yet whether vigilantes or fellow gang members were behind the Babao’s killing. (AIV & JST of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (July 26, 2007 issue)
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