Four suspected robbers including an escaped detainee were arrested as alert police operatives foiled an attempt to hold up a store in downtown Tagbilaran Monday. The suspects had intended to rob Bombay Bazaar along busy B. Inting street just across the unfinished Agora building. Police identified the four as Alberto Doria, 34, single, a native of Riverside, Bilar town, Medie Pailagan, 34, married, of Yanaya, Bilar, Maximo Yecyec, 24, of Cabanbanan, Dimiao, and Joseph Cruta, 23, a native of Owac, Bilar.

Doria was a former detainee of the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center (BDRC) who escaped in a jailbreak. Yecyec yielded a grenade and a caliber .45 revolver with six live bullets while Pailagan and Cruta each yielded caliber .38 handguns with six bullets. Two more suspects, one of them identified as Elmer Yecyec, managed to elude the police dragnet during the pursuit operations about 6 pm last July 9. Intelligence information alerted the Tagbilaran PNP and Camp Dagohoy about the planned hold-up of the business establishment. After receiving the intelligence tip, both police commands immediately launched a joint operation against the suspects.

The teams were led by Chief Insp. Jacinto Cesar, Tagbilaran PNP chief, and Supt. Clarito Baja, Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch chief. When the responding policemen arrived at the area, the suspects were already casing the establishment and where nabbed just before they could carry out the hit. Charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives have been filed against Yecyec, Cruta and Paigalan. Although there was no case filed against Doria, the arresting policemen have sought a commitment order before turning him over to the BDRC in connection with his previous conviction. Doria had been convicted of murder that led to his detention at the BDRC but he managed to escape in 2000. Aside from being in the general merchandise trade, Bombay Bazaar is also known to engage in the money changing trade.