The police arrested an Army soldier and his companion who were allegedly involved in four hold-up incidents within one hour last night, in Brgy. Lopez Jaena, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

Supt. William Senoron, Sagay police chief, yesterday identified the suspect, who claimed to be a member of the 15th Infantry Battalion, as PFC Rex Valencia.

Initial police investigations showed that Valencia and his companion, who managed to escape, staged four hold-up incidents in Brgy. Lopez Jaena, Sagay, and also almost robbed Sagay Councilor Zaldy Bismar and members of his family last night.

Senoron said Valencia was positively identified by his victims who trooped to the headquarters of the Sagay City Police Station, upon learning of his arrest.

A .45 caliber Mark IV pistol with a magazine containing ammunition was recovered from Valencia, who is now detained at the lock-up cell of the Sagay City Police Station.

Police investigations also showed that Valencia and his unidentified companion, who were on board an XRM blue motorcycle, overtook the Toyota Hi-Lux vehicle of Bismar along the road of Brgy. Lopez Jaena, Sagay City, about 8:15 p.m.

However, Bismar and his family managed to escape, on their vehicle, and reported the incident to the Sagay City Police Station.

About 20 minutes later, Valencia and his companion robbed at gunpoint Joy Medriano and Mark Mensorado and took their cellphones in Sitio Balibago of the barangay, police said.

The two then proceeded to the house of a certain Marlyn Pelaez in Purok Salvacion in the barangay, and also robbed the occupants identified as Joy Pelaez, Ronald Moreno and Gerald Sajo of P300 in cash and two sets of MP4 audio equipment.

Not contented with that, the two also robbed Elezar Destor of his 3315 cellphone in Sitio Cabiguhan of the barangay, police investigations also showed.

Senoron said the barangay tanods of Bato in Sagay City, and Alejandro Panes, chief security officer of the Sagay Sugar Central, who were monitoring the radio transmissions of the Sagay policemen responding to the four robbery-hold-up incidents, set up a checkpoint in front of their barangay hall.

Barangay tanods and Panes intercepted and arrested Valencia at a checkpoint in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City, an hour after the series of robbery-hold-up incidents.

Valencia was reported last night to have been already dismissed from the military service. However, Valencia was also reported by his colleagues to have been working for his re-instatement to the Philippine Army.

Also recovered from Valencia, aside from his pistol, were a gun holster, a cellphone, a wallet containing P1,500 in cash and an AFP Savings and Loans Inc. identification card.*GPB

back to top