By Jennifer P. Rendon and Felipe V. Celino
Three suspects in the robbery and killing of a security agency executive were arrested in police operations in Capiz and Iloilo provinces.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Jomuad, Jr., Roxas City police chief, said the series of arrests started with the identification of the alleged mastermind, 39-year-old security guard Rogelio Padernal.
Jomuad said they received reports of Padernal’s involvement morning of July 21, a day after retired Army Master Sergeant Jobiffer Borda was killed at Barangay Bolo, Roxas City.
The 54-year-old victim, a resident of Barangay Lawaan, Roxas City, was the supervisor of Gold Claw Security Agency.
Working on the lead, investigators went to Padernal’s house at Angel Ville in Barangay San Jose, Roxas City.
He initially denied any knowledge of Borda’s death and claimed that he was in another place when the robbery happened.
But police later found out that Padernal served as look-out in the robbery incident,
He subsequently confessed to have plotted the robbery but claimed that killing Borda was not part of the plan.
Padernal also admitted taking P30,000 from the P130,000 cash that was robbed from Borda. But he only turned over P800.
He later pointed to his alleged cohorts Gary Onilan and Ian Sherieco Calleja alias Eric, a resident of Sitio Bato, Barangay Dulangan, Pilar, Capiz.
In a follow-up operation, Onilan, 39, was arrested at his house in Pilar town.
Members of the Estancia Police Station in Iloilo also arrested Calleja, 28, at his house in Barangay Takbuyan, Estancia, at around 11 pm Tuesday.
The arresting officers also seized from Onilan P25,000 cash and a caliber .45 pistol with 7 ammunitions.
Police also recovered a homemade shotgun, a caliber .22 revolver, and a Honda TMX motorcycle at Onilan’s house.
He later confessed to have given Calleja P30,000 for driving the motorcycle.
Another P30,000 was given to a certain Romulo Briol as “referral fee.”
Briol remains at large.
Investigation indicated that Borda withdrew P130,000 from a bank and was on his way to the security agency’s office at Barangay Bolo when the incident happened.
Onilan and Calleja tailed him from the bank and later shot him several times.
The victim’s motorcycle fell on the road shoulder.
The backrider shot him again and took his sling bag containing the P130,000 cash.
The suspects fled to the public transport terminal at Pueblo de Panay and left their motorcycle.
They proceeded to Pilar by riding a passenger jeepney.
Police made the breakthrough in the case with help from concerned citizens and close circuit television (CCTV) footages from establishments near the crime scene
Meanwhile, Jomuad said they are now preparing charges for robbery with homicide against the suspects.
