A teenager suspected of being part of a hold-up group involved in several armed robberies, was arrested by the police at his home in Bacolod, as two pedestrians also lost their valuables to another group of thieves in the city yesterday.

The 17-year-old boy from Purok Paghidaet, Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod, was taken into custody by Police Station 8 members led by Senior Insp. Placido Gentoleo, by virtue of a warrant issued by a Bacolod court for three counts of robbery-hold-up, with a P100,000 bail set for each case.

The minor, who is a third year high school student in Brgy. Tangub, is among the alleged companions of Don-Don Edal, 23, in a number of hold-ups in the barangay and in Brgy. Sum-ag, Gentoleo said.

Edal, a native of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, was sleeping at his mother’s house in Purok Paghidaet when he was apprehended Wednesday on the strength of the same warrant, Gentoleo added.

He said that their third companion is still the subject of search operations.

Among alleged victims of the trio were a female call center agent who sustained gunshot wounds on the head and right arm when they shot her after taking her shoulder bag in December last year, police investigation showed.

Gentoleo said the same group was also tagged in the fatal shooting of a security guard during the robbery of a convenience store in Brgy. Alijis, in Bacolod also last year.

Aside from the pending three counts of robbery-hold-up charges against them, Gentoleo said that, at least three more cases are being prepared against them, after several hold-up victims identified them as the ones who stole their valuables.

Meanwhile, Harry Tolidano, 19, of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, told PO3 Anthony Marijana of Police Station 2 that five unidentified persons robbed him of his P2,500 in cash at knifepoint, outside the Battle Station 5 computer gaming shop at San Agustin Street, Bacolod, at about 4 a.m. yesterday.

Margon Ross Termil, 20, of Purok Mainuswagon, Brgy. Bata, Bacolod, on the other hand, reported to Police Station 2 that four unidentified persons took his plastic envelope containing his wallet with P200 in cash, Jollibee uniform, and documents, at about 5 a.m. yesterday.

Termil said he was walking along the Redemptorist Church at B.S. Aquino Drive, in the city, when the suspects cornered him.

Several pedestrians have been robbed by unidentified thieves near the Redemptorist Church recently.

Insp. Jeffrey Attunaga, Police Station 2 commander, said they are monitoring the area in hopes of arresting the robbers.*PP

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