Leader of Acetylene Gang falls

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

A suspected leader of the notorious Acetylene Gang that police identified to have operated all over the country, is recaptured February 23.

Peter S. Camed alias Peter Sumadka was nabbed by operatives of San Carlos City Police under Supt. Ricardo T. dela Paz. The arresting team was led by Insp. Victorino E. Romanillos , Jr .

In a report submitted to Police Regional Office (PRO-6) director Chief Supt. Doroteo A. Reyes II, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director Supt. Charles T. Calama , Jr. noted that on Tuesday afternoon, police received an information that Sumadka had just arrived in Kanlaon City and stayed in the house of his live-in partner Flodeliz Jaculbe , located at Liberty Hills, Brgy . Mabigo of said city.

Calama added that immediately, the arresting unit composed of SPO3 Ramon S. Batulin Sr., SPO3 Morito F. Racho , PO3 Mark Angelo Junco, PO2 Titio P. Sia and PO2 Rommel Villacampa staged the arrest of Sumadka .

Sumadka had a warrant of arrest under Criminal Case No. RTC 3132 entitled PP vs. Peter vs. Sumadka , et al, issued by Hon. Judge Rolindo Beldia of RTC Branch 57, San Carlos City , Negros Occidental.

The San Carlos City PNP together with Kanlaon City police led by Insp. Petronilo D. Gracia , PO3 Antonio Nobleza of Calatrava PNP and Bacolod City elements rushed to the residence of Jaculbe and arrested Sumadka who did not resist.

“ Sumadka when investigated readily admitted that he is one of the six suspects in the M. Lhuillier Pawnshop robbery on August 15, 2003 wherein P1.9 million cash and jewelry were stolen,” Calama said.

He added that recovered from the possession of Sumadka were domestic flight schedule of Cebu Pacific and maps of National Capital Region, Panay , Davao and provinces of Biliran , Leyte and  Samar .

To note, the so-called Acetylene Gang had ransacked a bank and pawnshop here in Iloilo city. The suspects allegedly used acetylene torch in dismantling the lock and vault. Their modus operandi includes renting the room adjacent to their target establishment in order to penetrate it easily.

“The members of Acetylene Gang headed by Sumadka are the suspects in the series of pawnshop and bank robberies nationwide and have a pending warrant of arrest in Panay Island,” Calama cited.

Sumadka is presently detained at San Carlos PNP lock-up cell while his companions remain at large.