Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Brains behind holdup of 2 New Zealanders nabbed
THE alleged mastermind in the robbery of two New Zealand investors in Baguio last February 21, where P1.5 million was stolen, was arrested in Kalinga, a police official said.
Senior Supertindent Maximino Valiente, director of the Kalinga Provincial Police Office (KPPO), identified the suspect as Celedonio Javier Gragasin alias Jong, 35.
Valiente said the suspect was arrested in Balong, Tabuk City, Kalinga last March 28 on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Fernando Vil Pamintuan of the Baguio City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 3 for his alleged violations of Republic Act (RA) 6539 or carnapping, and for robbery with violence and intimidation.
Confiscated from the suspect during the arrest were one caliber .38 paltik or homemade revolver, three homemade 12-gauge shotguns and assorted ammunition.
"Upon interrogation, he (Gragasin) readily admitted his participation in the crime," Valiente said.
The police official said the arrest was made by a composite team from the Tabuk City Police Office led by Chief Inspector Benito Wacas and the Provincial Police Mobile Group of Kalinga led by Chief Inspector Charles Domallig.
"The Kalinga police scored anew against lawless elements and wanted criminals, and hit it big-time with their renewed vigor and enthusiasm in their work, with the unending support of the concerned local government units," he pointed out.
"As a result of a month-long intensive intelligence gathering and monitoring operation, our local police arrested one of the suspects in the hold-up incident during the Panagbenga Flower Festival in Baguio City. This incident caused a bit of a stir in the international community and the foreign media because two of the victims are tourists or investors from New Zealand who came here just to witness the world renowned festival and at the same time do some business," Valiente said.
Police records revealed that the suspect is the alleged leader of a notorious robbery or holdup group operating in Baguio City and in adjacent areas of the Cordillera region and Cagayan Valley.
On February 21, New Zealanders James Corbett Maxwell and Paul Timothy Oliver and their Filipino friend Professor Eliseo Cabusao fell prey to five heavily-armed men, who entered their transient house located at 30 General Lim Street and forced them to lie face down, and hogtied their hands and feet.
The two foreigners were reportedly even punched, and struck on their heads with guns, causing injuries.
Afterwards, the gunmen started divesting them of their personal belongings and took a soft black briefcase containing P1.5 million before driving away in the rented vehicle of the victims which was described as a red Honda CRV bearing license plate CST-759 owned by Rosario Mangune.
Gragasin is reportedly en route to join his two other cohorts arrested by Baguio policemen identified as Pedro Pascual Gemido alias Robert and Cristituto Aydoc Sigasig alias Jay-R.
Aside from the cases filed earlier against the three suspects, an additional charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition was also prepared for filing against Gragasin.
A follow-up operation is still ongoing to identify, locate and arrest the two remaining suspects, who are still at large. (EJ)
