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Cops hunt Ozamiz Group members after Cebu mall heist

By John Rey Saavedra

October 21, 2019, 9:47 pm

<p><strong>BEHIND BARS.</strong> Arnel Cimafranca, 38, from Tangub City, talks to the media while detained at the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) on Monday (Oct. 21, 2019). Cimafranca admitted he was among the Ozamiz Group members who robbed a number of establishments inside the J Centre Mall in Mandaue City last Oct. 19. <em>(Photo courtesy of Eric Amaro)</em></p>

BEHIND BARS. Arnel Cimafranca, 38, from Tangub City, talks to the media while detained at the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) on Monday (Oct. 21, 2019). Cimafranca admitted he was among the Ozamiz Group members who robbed a number of establishments inside the J Centre Mall in Mandaue City last Oct. 19. (Photo courtesy of Eric Amaro)

CEBU CITY – Police authorities are now hunting down the three remaining members of the Ozamiz Group involved in a robbery at J Centre Mall in Mandaue City on Saturday night.

Col. Ildebrandi Usana, Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) deputy director for administration, on Monday said they believe the three suspects identified only through their aliases “Tony Boy”, “Ranger” and “Ryan Mark” are still hiding in Cebu province.

The police believed the mall robbery was pulled off by more or less 11 members of the Ozamiz Group.

Eight of the fleeing suspects who were about to leave the Bogo City wharf bound for Masbate were intercepted by the police on Saturday night.

However, four of them were killed when they fought with the police. They were identified as Glenn Gilberto Tairos, Kevin Plaza Andales, Philip Faburada and Wilfredo Suerte Enguito. One suspect, Arnel Cimafranca, 38, was wounded in the shootout.

It was Cimafranca who later pointed to Tairos as the leader of the group.

The four other suspects identified as Roel Sumingit, Julivyn Quirante, Jun Candelaria, and James Anthony Gomez, are now in the custody at the Mandaue City Police Office along with Cimafranca.

Maj. Emily Santos, chief of the Bogo City Police Station, said the group of Tairos was at the Polambato wharf preparing to board a Ro-Ro (roll on, roll off) vessel bound for Masbate, when a cop, Staff Sgt. Jojit Potot, stopped them and checked their identities.

Potot found out that the beige Toyota Innova they were riding in was similar to the vehicle captured in a closed- circuit television camera at J Centre Mall.

Police operatives recovered from the suspects PHP345,000 in cash, two revolvers, two cold chisels, glass cutters, and clothing.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue Police Office headed by Col. Jonathan Abella placed all security guards in the mall under investigation, to determine possible connivance with the robbers.

The police are yet to recover the PHP130 million worth of jewelry from Ginros Gem and Jewelry, Oro China Wedding and Engagement Rings, M. Lhuillier Jewelers, Jay-Ann Jewelry, and the PHP6-million cash from Ichange Money Forex.

Usana said the Ozamiz Group stages their robberies in major cities. “They go from one place to another… So yung kanilang kakayahan ay walang pagkaka-iba sa mga una nilang mga remnants (Their capabilities are no different from their former members),” he said.

Usana assured the public that policemen in the region are still on their toes in securing public places. (PNA)

 

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