By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two suspects in the PHP 3.1 million highway robbery in Pilar, Capiz, posted bail shortly after charges were filed against them.
Colonel Albert Tapulao, Capiz police chief, identified the suspects as John Francis Daquilaña and his aunt, Ma. Gemmarie Daquilaña, both residents of Barangay Gibato, Dumarao, Capiz.
The two were charged with robbery in band and released from detention after posting bail of PHP 100,000 each.
Both suspects denied involvement in the robbery. Ma. Gemmarie claimed she lacked the capacity to participate in such a crime.
The suspects were arrested on Jan. 6, a day after the robbery.
Tapulao said police also charged four other individuals for their involvement in the incident. These include dismissed policemen Lyman John Ochenta and Marnie John Asajar, as well as Arnel Arguilles and Leonito Tajasco.
Manhunt operations are ongoing for Ochenta and Asajar, who have pending arrest warrants.
Ochenta, a former police officer assigned to Sara Police Station, was dismissed from service on Sept. 4, 2017, for grave misconduct.
He is implicated in several crimes, including a PHP 1-million heist in Sara, Iloilo, in December 2022, and the robbery and killing of a motorbanca chief security officer in Carles, Iloilo, on Sept. 10, 2022.
Asajar, a resident of Barangay Domingo, Sara, Iloilo, faces five arrest warrants for charges of murder, frustrated murder, and robbery.
Tapulao clarified that charges were filed against six suspects, not seven as initially reported.
They are accused of robbing employees of a softdrink distributor at Barangay Sta. Fe, Pilar, on Jan. 5.
Police recovered the suspects’ getaway vehicle, a Toyota Innova, at Barangay Moroboro, Dingle, Iloilo, on Jan. 8.
The victims, identified as Jorge Valsote, 48; Daniel Acervo, 35; and Jose Billones, 57, were on their way to Panay town to remit their collection when they were robbed.
The incident occurred at around 9:55 a.m. while the victims were driving uphill in Barangay Sta. Fe.
Three men wearing Philippine National Police athletic uniforms flagged them down and pointed a .45-caliber pistol at them.
The suspects entered the vehicle and forced the victims to surrender their money, mobile phones, and car keys.
Initial reports stated that the assailants stole PHP 1 million. However, a subsequent accounting by the victims’ manager revealed that the stolen amount was PHP 3,140,000.
