BACOLOD CITY – Police arrested three persons, including a teenager, for allegedly robbing a gasoline station in Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday, October 5.
POLICE arrest a teenager and his companion in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City, Negros Occidental, for allegedly robbing a gasoline station in Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay on Thursday, October 5. (Photo courtesy of Silay City Police Station)
Police identified two suspects as Joseph Garrucho, 24, of Barangay 4, Silay, and Christian Balili, 18, of Barangay 2, Silay.
Police Major Rhea Sarah Villanueva, officer-in-charge of the Silay City Police Station, said the two suspects were arrested in a pursuit operation in Barangay Bagtic after they received a report about the robbery incident past midnight.
Villanueva said the suspects allegedly threatened a pump boy at gunpoint and carted away P1,300 in sales.
She said the gasoline station is open 24/7 but has no security guard. The owner was able to collect sales early that day, she added.
The suspects fled on board a motorcycle.
However, only two suspects were intercepted in Silay, as they told their 23-year-old companion to escape on foot, Villanueva said.
Villanueva said that they informed the neighboring Talisay City Police Station to be on alert for the remaining suspect, He was arrested near a bridge in Talisay.
She said that a .38 caliber revolver with two bullets was recovered from Garrucho while 12 grams of suspected shabu worth P81,600 were recovered from him and Balili.
Police also recovered from their companion a .38 caliber revolver with five bullets, two lighters, P600, 2.5 grams of suspected shabu worth P17,000, two tooters, and P210 worth of suspected marijuana.
Villanueva said that Garrucho is a street-level individual and a listed drug personality in Silay, while Balili is a noted thief in the city. However, no cases were previously filed against Balili because he was a minor, Balili added.
Suspects will be charged for robbery and illegal possession of dangerous drugs while Garrucho and his 23-year-old companion will face additional charges for illegal possession of firearms in relation to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
Villanueva said they will check the motorcycle to determine the owner as the suspects failed to present pertinent documents.