Suspects in Passi City heist rounded up
After four days of manhunt operations, elements of Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) and Passi City PNP had finally rounded up all the five suspects who robbed a palay-buying station and killed its caretaker Monday last week.
Iloilo Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Efren Quintos said all the five suspects, namely, Julius Jaleco, Rey Selorico and Jeffrey Barrios of Barangay Agtabo, Passi City, Iloilo; Gelmar Billones of Barangay Braulan, San Enrique and Jono Dolerich Aguilar of Barangay Catan-agan, San Enrique are now under their custody
Barrios was pointed by his four other companions as the mastermind.
The robbery occurred early morning of October 10 when the group barged into the warehouse of rice trader Reno Palmares at Sara Road Passi City. The businessman’s longtime hired help Vicente Arcaño was shot at close range by one of the suspects while another grabbed the pouch with P300,000 inside.
Jaleco and Billones were arrested at their residence two days after the crime happened.
On Thursday two other suspects Selorico and Aguilar were arrested in Mandaon, Masbate where they fled from Roxas City.
Police recovered from the duo P35,000 cash, possibly part of the money carted away from Arcaño, and two cellphones.
At around 6 p.m. Friday, Barrios yielded to the IPPO through Supt. Mario Abraham Lenaming.
In a radio interview Barrios denied being the mastermind of the crime.
Charges of robbery with homicide, docketed as NR 05-J-048, are now up against the suspects.