Robber slain in clash

By NITZ ARANCON, JOEY NACALABAN
and JIGGER J. JERUSALEM
Correspondents .

POLICE killed an alleged leader of a robbery group during a running gun battle as suspects tried to escape following a heist in Barangay Carmen on Tuesday evening.

Col. Henry Dampal, city police director, said the group was responsible for a string of recent robbery cases in the city.

Dampal identified the fatality as 29-year-old Archolito Palubon a.k.a. Bingkol of Zone 1, Buara, Barangay Bayabas, this city.

Police said Palubon and a companion were robbing a hardware store on Ipil St., Carmen, when policemen, responding to a call, arrived.

Maj. Ian Borinaga, Carmen police chief, said the armed men ran off with some P20 thousand in cash taken from the New Cayagan Columbia Hardware when they saw law enforcers coming.

“They (suspects) fired first leading to an exchange of gunfire,” Borinaga said.

Police said the suspects took with them a female hardware worker and used her as a human shield but they freed here a few meters from the establishment.

Dr. Christian Caballes, a medico-legal officer of the Scene of the Crime Operatives, said Palubon was shot to the back and the bullet exited through his chest.

The other suspect managed to escape by mingling with the crowd but left behind a black Suzuki Raider motorcycle now in the custody of the police.

The gunbattle started near Carmen market and ended on Lirio Street, at the back of the Cagayan de Oro College-Phinma, at around 6:15 pm Tuesday.

The police officers who chased the suspects were Chief M/Sgt. Anatalio Mata and M/Sgts. Roy Balase and FranciscoTumanda.

Police found a caliber .45 pistol, a magazine with ammunition, a bonnet, a holster, a helmet, a small sachet containing a white substance believed to be shabu, a cellular phone, a driver’s license, and P2,600 in cash.

Of the P20-thousand loot, police managed to recover only P2,600.

Maj. Evan Viñas, city police spokesman, said the suspects threw much of the money in the air apparently to attract a crowd and distract the police.

“Samtang nagdagan sila, nagsigi silag paboto tumong ngadto sa nagsunod nila nga mga police,” said Viñas.

Police said Palubon was the leader of a criminal gang from Ozamiz City that robbed branches of the commercial courier LBC in the city on several occasions.

Col. Dampal said Palubon’s group was also responsible for the recent Quality Appliance Plaza robbery.

Palubon, according to Dampal, was caught in a CCTV recording. ”Siya gyud ang na-a sa CCTV footage sa dihang ilang gitulis ang Quality Appliance Plaza,” Dampal said.

Maj. Viñas said Palubon and his group members left a “signature” whenever they carried out a robbery in the city like they always strike during closing hours.

Borinaga said Palubon and his members also studied their targets and took note of workers’ routine movements.

“The group usually entered an establishment before it closes for the day,” he said.

LBC branches, he said, became the group’s “favorite” targets because there was a time that the firm was known to have no guards.

Dampal said the killing of Palubon should be enough to send a message to robbers and other crime groups.

Dante Aguinaldo, Palabon’s uncle, said the slain suspect had worked as a guard and taxi driver.

Palubon’s mother Chonesa described her son as “very kind and friendly.”

“Pero upat nami ka tuig wala magkita sa akong anak. Ang last namong panagtagbo siya miingon kanako nga nag-drive daw siya’g taxi,” Chonesa said.