BY GLENDA TAYONA & RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas lauded the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) for the arrest of one of the suspects in the burglary of an express courier company in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district last week.
The 22-year-old John Mark Lebuna, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, was arrested in Barangay Guinobatan, Leganes, Iloilo on March 3.
“I am happy with this accomplishment of our city police,” said Treñas.
The city mayor will discuss with ICPO officer-in-charge, Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, as to who will get the reward money raised to P200,000 following an additional P100,000 committed by Iloilo City’s Rep. Julienne Baronda.
Treñas said the arrest of the suspect serves as a warning to those who will do illegal acts in the city.
“Why are we giving this reward? We want to send a message nga seryoso kita. If you do something illegal like a holdup, padakop ta gid,” he stressed.
Members of the ICPO’s Intelligence Unit, who carried out the arrest, also seized three sachets of suspected shabu from Lebuna.
Barangay San Isidro, Jaro captain Felix Dureza said the suspect has a string of theft and robbery cases.
Prior to the burglary of the J&T Express hub, Lebuna was also tagged in a holdup incident in Barangay Tacas, Jaro involving a taxi. He was imprisoned for several months before the case was dismissed, police said.
The police is hunting two other suspects.
Around 7:30 p.m. on March 1, three men entered the J&T Express office and declared, “Holdup ‘ni, indi kamo maghulag kay paniruhon ta kamo!”
The suspects carted away P622,966 in cash. Two cellular phones and around P6,000 in cash from two employees were also taken./PN
