Panglao hold-up solved in swift police response

Look what quick response and efficiency can do. A potentially embarrassing hold-up in Panglao town was solved three hours after the incident as police teams joined hands in the pursuit operations. The incident took place about 7 pm in Barangay Lourdes, Panglao town last Aug. 7. The victims were identified as David John Neisz, 55, and his wife Ginelda along with their guests, John Wooley and his girlfriend Rowena Pisiao, Neisz and his wife were hosting the party for Wooley and Pisiao when the five suspects suddenly broke into their residence. The suspects entered the house through the rear door.

After announcing the hold-up, the suspects proceeded to divest the victims of their valuables. The suspects confiscated three cellular phones valued at P36,000, two wedding rings worth P45,000, a laptop worth $5,500, wrist watch worth $650 and other items. After gathering the loot, the suspects immediately made good their escape. It was not known if the suspects used motorcycles but this was one angle considered because the victims noted that one of the suspects was seen with a helmet.

The victims however managed to alert law enforcers who immediately launched a joint operation involving the police units of Panglao, Dauis, Tagbilaran City and the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch. Four of the five suspects fell into the hands of responding policemen barely three hours after the caper.

The first to fall was Lauro Namoco Jr., 32, married, a native of Dimiao but presently residing in Lourdes , Panglao. Namoco, who was positively identified by the victims, was arrested by Panglao policemen who rushed to the barangay. According to the victims, he wore the same shirt that he was wearing at the time of his arrest.

The other suspects were identified as Tommy Merca, 30, married, a native of Tambangan, Loay town, Henry Calihat, 35, married, a native of Dimiao now residing in Barangay Libaong, Panglao, and Orlando Subeza, 45, married and a native of Santo Niño, San Miguel town. It was Namoco who identified Calihat. Both are known to policemen due to their previous brushes with the law. Namoco spent time for murder while Calihat had been booked for illegal possession and discharge of firearm. Calihat was subsequently arrested by a team from the Tagbilaran PNP led by Insp. Miguel Jimenez in Ubujan district.

A fifth suspect managed to elude arrest. His companions refused to divulge his identity, making it difficult for policemen to collar him. The remaining suspect is crucial to the solution of the case since he is believed to be holding the loot which was largely unrecovered. During the inquest investigation conducted last Wednesday at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office, the four arrested suspects signed waivers for their counter-affidavits.

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