Leyte cop, partner held for P8-M heist

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman and his partner were arrested yesterday for robbing the previous day two employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Leyte of P8 million intended for indigenous people in Region 8.

Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr., chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the suspects, PO3 Arnulfo Boca, assigned to the Ormoc City police, and Johnny Agcang, 19, were positively identified by Costino Goco, driver of the DSWD service vehicle.

Pagdilao said Goco and Vilma Aguilar, chief of the DSWD-Region 8 management division, were on board a Mazda B-200 pick-up when they were held up at gunpoint by three men along Maharlika Highway in Caibaan, Tacloban City at around 8:20 a.m. Monday.

Superintendent Mafelino Bazar, CIDG Region 8 chief, said that prior to the robbery, Goco had a drinking spree with Boca and two other men, a certain Zaldy and Jan-Jan.

During the drinking session, Goco mentioned that he, along with Aguilar, would be carrying a large amount of money for distribution to indigenous people in different places in Region 8.

Goco, however, denied that the robbery was hatched during the drinking session.

At the height of the robbery, Goco recognized Zaldy and Jan-Jan but pretended that he did not know them as he feared for his life.

Arrested in his home, Boco initially denied his participation in the heist, but later owned up to it. He later led CIDG investigators to the house of Alfredo Calibuso in Tacloban City where he supposedly left his share of the loot amounting to P3.8 million.

A succeeding operation yesterday resulted in the arrest of Agcang in his home in Ormoc City.

Recovered from Agcang were a caliber .45 Colt Mark IV loaded with seven bullets, a Honda Wave 100, the getaway motorcycle; and P30,000 in cash.