A robbery gang whose leader and members are said to be from Bohol is gripping nearby Cebu in fear apparently because of its daring in the execution of its capers. Tagged by police as the Bohol Robbery Gang, the suspects' latest victim was the La Nueva Supermart, a store located just across the Cebu City Hall and a stone throw from the Waterfront Police Station in the city's pier area. Three million was said to be carted away by the robbers in the daring heist which also resulted in the wounding of two security guards. Although the same gang was blamed in some other robberies in Metro Cebu, their latest hit was considered the biggest in terms of loot. The daring hold-up infuriated Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena that he relieved 10 policemen assigned at the nearest police station. This developed even as Tagbilaran is also gripped in terror after a series of robberies perpetrated by another gang whose identity is yet to be verified by the local police. The latest robbery incident in this city claimed the life of one Jack Arat, 30 of J.S. Torralba St. and marketing executive of the Bohol Tropics Club.

Robbery was the motive of the Arat murder.

The latest robbery incident topped the string of cases that took place in this city in a span of one week. Motorcycle riding robbers struck the other week at the Borja Clinic where a security guard was divested of his 99mm pistol. The guard belongs to the Al Nino Security Agency. Early on, a band of robbers also divested employees of the Tagbilaran Puericulture Center of cash and jewelries. Still another case took place at the Buen Villa Pension House where a cashier was nearly raped by one of the suspects. In yesterday's mayor's report, Mayor Dan Neri Lim expressed alarm of the regularity of robbery incidents in this city. He allayed public fears that the city is doing everything to ferry out the suspects.

ARAT MURDER

Arat, aside from being a Tropics marketing executive, was also a dance instructor. He died after he was shot in an apparent hold-up Monday. The incident took place about 3:30 dawn last Aug. 13 after the victim arrived from an evening entertainment show in Dauis town. Initial reports revealed that the victim had just alighted from his vehicle when the suspect approached him and announced a hold-up. The suspect was able divest the victim of two expensive mobile phones and cash of still undetermined amount. According to Juan Arat, the victim's father, he was awakened by the sound of gunshot. When he looked out of the window, he saw his son already bloodied but the suspect was already nowhere in sight. PO3 Menelio Sevilla, city PNP investigator, said the bullet which entered the right side of the victim exited resulting in through-and-through bullet wound. The victim was rushed to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital but he expired at 7 am . Police operatives are still trying to determine the identity of the suspect.

BOHOL ROB GANG

The notorious Bohol Robbery Gang was said to be headed by Valentino Garcia, Jr., a native of San Miguel town. While operating in the northern town, it was tagged as the group behind the robbery of a Caltex Station in Talibon early this year. The Garcia-led group pulled off the Las Nueva Supermart robbery. But an alleged gang member identified as Rodulfo Atega alias Dupong appeared before the San Miguel Police Station and denied any participation of the Cebu heist. While at the police station, he called up Sr. Insp. Michael Bastes, chief of the Criminal and Investigation Branch of Cebu City and denied involvement in the robbery. This suspect is his hometown in San Miguel and approached a policeman to clear his name of suspicion that he was involved in the caper. Alega was alleged to be a member of the gang when his picture appeared in stored photos of the cellphone of Garcia, Jr. Garcia, Jr. is a brother of another gang member identified as Casimero Garcia alias Meloy. Valentino was arrested in a raid in Consolacion, Cebu a couple of months ago while his brother Casimero and Atega escaped during the raid. Both are now in a Cebu jail facing charges of illegal possession of firearms.

PNP MEASURES VS ROBBERIES

The string of robberies in the province has alarmed the provincial police command prompting Bohol PNP Director PSSupt. Edgardo Ingking to form a Special Operations Group (SOG) to specifically conduct special anti-robbery operations province wide. While waiting for the Special Warfare and Tactics (SWAT) training, successful SWAT candidates compose the SOG and are temporarily tasked to conduct the special operations in coordination with the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and the police stations. Ingking had also directed all chiefs of police (COP) to intensity police visibility patrol, establish random checkpoints, and improve intelligence gathering with maximum cooperation of Barangay Information Network (BIN) members and civilian partners. Ingking also directed police chiefs to ensure full enforcement of Oplan Sumpo Krimen, particularly in the prompt reporting of robbery incidents in their respective areas of responsibility to the Provincial Tactical Operations Center (PTOC). The provincial police force also improves communication through cellular phones at the PTOC. The provincial command also continues to give incentives to the police stations for every robbery suspect arrested. In fact, the first recipient of this incentive program were Getafe and Buenavista police stations for arresting one Dindo Balaganzo, a robbery suspect, during a pursuit operation on June 18 at Sitio Cabagnawan, San Jose, Getafe.

On the other hand, the provincial police director will be imposing negative incentives to COPs who fail to meet certain standards in the campaign against robbery. For a robbery case not solved within 60 days, the concerned COP automatically receives a maximum rating of "satisfactory" in his Individual Performance Evaluation Rating. Such rating will go down further for every additional robbery case unsolved. A rating below “satisfactory” would mean that concerned COP is not eligible to receive the annual Productivity Bonus of P2,000. On the other hand, the concerned COP will be subjected to investigation for possible administrative liability for “Neglect of Duty.” for at least two robbery cases unsolved beyond 60 days in their respective areas of responsibility. This is to minimize, if not to totally eradicate, robberies and other crimes against person.

Meanwhile, the Police Community Relations (PCR) Branch of the provincial command composed of PSInsp. Uldarico Palgan and SP04 Lucito P Redulla, continued to conduct anti-crime and drug forum, specifically discussing the topics on Crime Prevention and Control, and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control. They conducted a forum on August 10 at the multipurpose court of barangay Tutolan, Dauis, as jointly sponsored by the Sangguniang Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials of the barangay led by Barangay Captain Primitivo Lopena and SK Chairman Rieve Synne H. Responte. Palgan, encouraged the residents including the Badjaos to be extra-vigilant and be partners with the police in the fight against criminality, while SP04 Redulla encouraged the youths to use their leisure time in sports, community activities to avoid going into illegal drugs. In another forum, the PCR conducted anti-crime trainer's seminar for students of Philippine Maritime Colleges to widen the participation of the community, especially students whom Ingking said play significant roles in wedding out criminalities. The officers of Philippine Maritime Colleges Bohol Student Government earlier attended the first of the two seminars held at the PMI Audio Visual Hall on August 11 until August 18.