5 men, juvenile rob, kill PUJ passenger

CEBU, Philippines - Five men and a juvenile have been arrested for robbery and the killing of a jeepney passenger early yesterday dawn.

Robbed and then killed was James Alarda, 22, single, of sitio Saging of barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

PO1 Restituto Raboy of the Homicide Section identified the suspects as Japhet Sanchez Cavada, 21, of sitio Maharlika, Tipolo, Jaypee Hingpit of Basubas compound in barangay Tipolo, Jerwin Yudencio, 20, single, of sitio Maharlika, Tipolo, Dan Tipol of Jayme Compound, Tipolo, Mark Louie Sanchez, 20, of Highway Seno in barangay Tipolo, and a 17-year-old from Basubas compound in barangay Tipolo.

Raboy said jeepney driver Genaro Mandaguit had claimed that at around 3:30 a.m. yesterday Alarda boarded his jeepney for Lapu-Lapu City.

Minutes later six men also boarded his jeepney. One of the six attempted to grab Alarda's silver necklace but Alarda foiled the attempt and got off the jeepney to transfer to the front seat, Raboy said.

Raboy said the men followed Alarda and took turns in hitting him.

He said Cavada then took out a .38 caliber revolver and shot Alarda on the head, killing him instantly.

Immediately after, the group fled towards barangay Guizo.         Policemen from Station 1 and the mobile patrol group gave chase and caught all the members of the group in their respective homes early yesterday morning.

The police had also seized the gun that was used in the crime.