THE driver of the Toyota Innova vehicle who robbed two persons along Villa Angela, Burgos Extension in Barangay Villamonte was arrested in a hot pursuit operation in Purok Sigay, Barangay 2, Bacolod City Tuesday, September 17.
The operation conducted by operatives of Police Station 2, 4 and City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) led to the arrest of Cyrus Canlas, 23, of Purok Sigay, Barangay 2.
Police Lieutenant Rondyl Tapang, chief of Police Station 4, said Canlas was arrested through the assistance of the owner of the rent-a-car, whose name is being withheld, and John Molato, who rented the car.
Two other suspects remain at-large.
Investigation showed that Molato rented the car on September 16 and after using it, Canlas borrowed it.
Tapang said Molato did not expect that Canlas, a former boyfriend of his sister, will use the car in illegal activity.
On Tuesday morning, September 17, Aaron Munoz, 24, and Kane Irish Dominguez, 20, both residents of Barangay Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, were robbed by three men along Villa Angela, Burgos Extension, Barangay Villamote. The men fled on board a Toyota Innova vehicle.
The victims managed to ask police assistance and when the operatives arrived in the area, the Toyota Innova was seen along Burgos Street and the three men onboard tried to escape.
The policemen chased them until they reached Barangay 35. The men abandoned the vehicle in Bag-ong Dalan in Barangay 35 and fled.
The victims positively identified the recovered Toyota Innova as the men's getaway vehicle.
Tapang said they recovered the bags of the victims inside the car, including the documents with the name of the owner of the rent-a-car. He said when they informed the car owner, they determined that it was rented by Molato, who also allowed Canlas to borrow it.
He said Canlas was a former detainee at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for violation of illegal drugs.
The police also found out that Canlas has a pending robbery-hold up case in the area of Police Station 1.
Tapang said Canlas also admitted that he was the driver of the vehicle when they committed the crime.
"They are not an organized group and we have already the names of his two companions who are subject of our follow-up operation," he said.
He added that it is up to the owner of the rent-a-car if they will file a case against Molato, who violated their contract.
Police Station 4 is now preparing the robbery hold-up charges to be filed against Canlas and his two companions.