A ROBBER ended up behind bars when his intended victim turned out to be a police officer.
Senior Master Sergeant Jeptha Jumawan of the Abellana Police Station, who is investigating the case, said the incident happened around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 at the corner of Don Mariano Cui and Jasmin Streets in Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City.
He said the victim, Patrolman Segfred Paqueo Yorpe, a 27- year-old resident of Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City, was on his bicycle when he was suddenly blocked by 48-year-old Rogelio Arabis Lipar, who was on board a scooter.
He said Lipar grabbed Yorpe’s cellphone, which the latter had placed at the back of his cycling shorts. Yorpe moved forward forcefully, but Lipar tried to fight him off.
The suspect backed down when Yorpe introduced himself as a police officer, Jumawan said.
He said Yorpe placed the suspect under arrest and recovered his cellphone. Yorpe also seized Lipar’s .38 revolver and scooter, both of which will be used as evidence against the latter.
Lipar, who is a resident of Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, is detained in the holding cell of the Abellana Police Station. He was later charged with robbery.
Denial
During an interview with SunStar Cebu, Lipar initially denied robbing the cop, but he later admitted that he intended to flee with Yorpe’s cellphone.
He said his only regret was that his victim turned out to be a police officer.