Two robbery suspects arrested

CEBU, Philippines - A laptop bag was all it takes to catch two alleged notorious holduppers in Cebu City.

Lito Ardiente, 33, and Daniel Fernandez, 40, were drawn by the laptop bag of Villabic Tropisado, 50, who was walking along V. Ranudo St., Barangay Cogon-Ramos at 6:00 a.m. yesterday.

Believing that the bag contains a laptop, the suspects who were on a motorcycle robbed Tropisado.  The bag only contains documents.

Beat patrol policemen from Cebu City Police Station 2 also happened to be in the area resulting in the arrest of the suspects. The police seized a caliber .22 magnum and a .38 snub nose revolver from the suspects.

Station 2 commander Chuck Barandog said that Ardiente and Fernandez are “noted” robbers in their area. In fact, they have been in and out of jail on charges of robbery.

Aside from Tropisado, two other robbery victims pointed at the suspects as the ones who robbed them.

Joanna Mae Manahan, one of the victims, said the duo robbed her in Mango Ave. last week. She lost a laptop and a cellular phone during the incident.

Barandog said additional charges for robbery and illegal possession of firearms will be filed against the suspects today. — (FREEMAN)