THE five accused in the J Centre Mall robbery on the night of Oct. 19, 2019, did not post bail after the information, or complaint, against them was filed before the Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, Oct. 28.
Julivyn Quirante, 43; Roel Sumingit, 35; Arnel Cimafranca, 38; Filomeno Candelaria, 38; and James Anthony Gomez, 44, were charged with robbery in band, which is a bailable offense.
Robbery in band is committed when four or more persons take part in a heist.
According to City Prosecutor Mary Francis Daquipil, bail was recommended at P100,000 per accused.
“We do not know why they didn’t post bail, but they have the right. In fact, they can do it anytime. It’s up to them when they’ll decide to post it, but their offense is a bailable offense,” Daquipil said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Their companions who remain at large will undergo a separate investigation.
Monday’s inquest was conducted by Deputy City Prosecutor Wilfredo Pangandoyon Jr.
In a related development, Police Colonel Jonathan Abella, Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) director, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, deputy city director for operations in Bacolod City, dropped by his office for a courtesy call.
Espenido was sent by the Bacolod City Police Office to coordinate with the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the MCPO after some of the accused admitted that they were also involved in a robbery incident in the capital city of Negros Occidental.
“Perhaps Espenido could give us additional information in identifying the suspects at large that we did not see during the J Centre Mall incident so they can be included in the investigation,” Abella said in Cebuano.
He believes Espenido’s visit will fast-track their investigation.
The five accused are under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 7.
Supt. Gil Inopia Jr., Mandaue City Jail warden, said the five accused are considered high-risk due to the gravity of their offense.
“We, as custodians, it’s our responsibility to secure them,” Inopia said.
Meanwhile, Abella wondered what Clarin, Misamis Occidental Mayor David Navarro was doing in Cebu.
Navarro was shot dead on his way to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office last Friday afternoon, Oct. 25, by four still unidentified men. He was arrested last Thursday after he punched a masseur and asked a masseuse to give him a hand job the night before.
“That’s a big question mark kung nganong naabot sila diri (why they were here). Base sa iyang mga sister nga under threat siya (According to his sisters, his life was under threat). So sa among part, kung under threat siya, nganong wala man sila nangayo og assistance sa PNP (Philippine National Police) kung maka-provide pa siguro mi og security nila (If that was the case, then why didn’t they ask for assistance when they arrived here because we could have provided them with security),” Abella said.
Based on initial information they’ve gathered, Navarro and the Parojinogs of Ozamiz City are not on good terms.
Like Navarro, members of the powerful Parojinog clan were also on President Duterte’s narco list.
On July 30, 2017, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Ozamiz City police simultaneously raided the house of the Parojinogs in Ozamiz and other properties, leaving 15 persons killed including incumbent Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and his wife. Another member of the Parojinog family died in the hospital three days later.
Abella said they are looking at different angles that will link Navarro to the accused in the J Centre Mall robbery. (KFD)