BARELY a day after a branch of courier firm LBC Express Inc. in Velez-Neri Streets, Cagayan de Oro City was robbed in broad daylight, authorities have arrested one of the suspects through a hot pursuit operation on Monday, November 5.
Police arrested 37 years old Roosevelt Bedro, resident of Buara, Bayabas, this city while the other suspect identified as Archolito Palubon was able to escape.
Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said suspects will likely face robbery, illegal possession of explosives and direct assault charges.
Authorities recovered bags containing cash in different denomination; LBC cash box, hand grenade, and a motorcycle believed to be the getaway vehicle of the suspects.
Hortillosa said the suspect threw the explosive at the operating team but it did not go-off because the safety pin was not removed.
Hortillosa said Bedro was the lookout and the driver of the get-away motorcycle while the two armed suspects were the ones who barged in to the establishment. The other suspect is still to be identified.
"Tulo tanan ang suspect. Ang nadakpan maoy driver katong isa nakaikyas ug ang isa unidentified," Hortillosa said.
Police said they have similar description of the suspects of the previous robbery-hold up cases of other LBC branches in Carmen, Yacapin street, Puerto and Tagoloan town.
"Natumbok ang mga suspects sa witnesses kay naa man tay daan pictures ani sa ila," Hortillosa added.
Hortillosa said the suspects will still face criminal cases even if the LBC management won't press robbery charges against the suspects.
"Mao na ang problema kung dili mag file og kaso ang LBC bisan identified na kay atong miagi wala man sila mag-file," Hortillosa said.
"Pero naa tay lain ma-file kay nakuhaan man siya og explosives unya posible direct assault kay gilabay man niya ang granada pero wala mibuto kay wala makuha ang pin," he added.
The grenade was turned over to Cocpo's Explosive and Ordnance Division while other seized evidences were under police custody.