Local News: Daga-daga Robbers Passing the Drainage System Foiled
Roxas City - Ilocano speaking robbers who rented a commercial store where they dug a whole to pass the drainage in robbing a nearby pawnshop was nabbed by policemen of Roxas City yesterday morning.
Capiz Police Provincial Director SSupt Domingo S. Cabillan reported to PRO 6 Regional Director Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr, that the incident happened inside the premises of Maria Gracia Pawnshop in the corner of Legasi and Bilbao Streets, Roxas City. He said the suspects gained entrance to the pawnshop by passing through the street drainage. They rented a commercial store 50 meters distance from the said pawnshop, and used the street drainage to dig a hole in going to the flooring of the pawnshop, using acytelene torch. But the alarm device of the pawnshop activated the danger signal which was immediately reported to Roxas City Police Station, resulting to the arrest of the suspects who were caught in the act. Arrested were identified as Ben Wangbu y Monte, 36, single, resident of Atop, La Trinidad, Benguet; and James Yayak y Batungan, 40, single, resident of Makat-an, Tadyan, Mt. Province. Their other companion was able to escape and elude arrest who is now subject of hot pursuit operation. The arrested suspects are presently detained at the Roxas City Police Station.
CSupt Querol suspects that this group is linked with those who were arrested in Pandan, Antique last April 19, 2011, who have similar modus operandi, they were also Ilocano speaking, it is possible that this "daga-daga" gang from Luzon are operating in Western Visayas particularly in the island of Panay, and are now neutralized by police authorities in Pandan, Antique. "They might be related to the group led by Eduardo Lalao, who robbed City Square Supermarket in San Jose, Antique last year where they have the same technique in executing their burglary acts by passing through the drainage system and by using acytelene to gain entrance," Querol also said.
On the other hand, Querol lauded the accomplishment of Roxas City PNP for foiling a robbery, and most especially in neutralizing early the "daga-daga" gang in their area of responsibility.*
