THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) is set to file charges against the four suspects identified as allegedly behind the New Year break-in of a pawnshop and who carted away at least P10 million worth of jewelry.
A robbery case is expected to be filed today, Monday, before the City Prosecutor’s Office against suspects Arnel Bagudang, Rico Patungay, Arvis Colon alias Rocky, and a certain “Pablo.”
Chief Inspector Lemuel Gonda, Cocpo’s operations and plans branch chief, said the suspects are alleged members of the “Acetylene Gang,” a group believed to be operating nationwide.
Gonda said the suspects were identified through the closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) of Alsons Pawnshop located at J.R. Borja Street in Cogon area.
In a recent Sun.Star Superbalita report, the police alleged that a certain Dennis Faisan is the leader of the gang.
He said the suspects checked in at an inn in Yacapin Street since December 28, and started the heist on the 29th.
The inn is located at the back of Alsons.
He said the suspects were arrested in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Sur, also for the same modus operandi. But they were able to post bail. They were identified also through a CCTV in the establishment they broke in.
Gonda said the group is not from the city and believed to base in Benguet Provnce but has conducted illegal activities in other parts of the country.
Senior Inspector Ariel Philip Pontillas, chief of Cocpo’s crime against persons and properties division, said the group had been operating in Valencia City in Bukidnon and Davao areas in the past.