A robber was sentenced to seven years imprisonment yesterday for taking a wallet containing P500 with the use of force and violence from a Bacolod resident.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 49 Judge Manuel Cardinal Jr. sentenced Arnold Gelacio Galeno to four years and two months as minimum, to seven years as maximum imprisonment after being found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge sent the records of the case against his brother and co-accused, Ronald Gelacio Galeno, who is still at large, to the archives to be revived upon his arrest.

Information filed in court said the two pointed a knife and robbed Ronaldo Almoque Mabunay of his wallet containing P500 at Galo-Gatuslao streets, Bacolod City, at 10 p.m. on May 6, 2009.

At that time, PO2 Joshua Tupaz Barile and PO3 Jackson Genolos of Police Station 1 were patrolling the area and Mabunay sought their help. A pursuit operation ensued and Arnold Galeno was apprehended with the stolen wallet containing the P500, a pointed aluminum instrument, and two marijuana cigarets  in his possession, the court was told.

Ronald Galeno was able to escape.

Arnold Galeno denied that he and his brother committed the robbery, and claimed the police maltreated him to force him to admit to the robbery.

But the judge said Arnold Galeno did not present any evidence to show ill-motive on the part of the policemen in testifying against him and his brother. He presented a defense of pure denial over the positive identification by the prosecution witness, Cardinal noted.*CPG

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