RSOG arrest thieves, recovers P1.2M worth of jewelries, seized guns

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 28, 2013

Camp Sec. Kangleon, Palo, Leyte – A father-and-son tandem were arrested, together with the later’s live-in partner, and more than one million pesos worth of jewelries were recovered in a follow-up operation by the elite Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG8) of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) against suspected thieves in Catbalogan City on Wednesday afternoon.

Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, PRO8 Regional Director, identified the suspects as Edwardo Pacayra y Fillas, 65, married, a barber by occupation; his son Darwin Pacayra y Ontoca alias Daroy, 27, tricycle driver and Darwin’s live-in partner Mariton Cinco y Borja, 20, jobless, all residing at Pier 2 site, Brgy. 4 in Catbalogan City.

“Our men conducted follow-up operations in connection with a thievery incident in Catbalogan City some two weeks ago victimizing a couple engaged in selling jewelries,” Soria informed.

Investigation conducted led to the identification of the suspects and the location of their hide-out, prompting the police to apply for search warrant that was granted by Judge Agerico Avila of Regional Trial Court Branch 29 in Catbalogan City on Wednesday morning.

At around 5:00 o’ clock Wednesday afternoon, joint elements of RSOG led by Police Inspector Constantino Jabonete, Jr. and Catbalogan City Police Station led by Police Superintendent Avelino Doncillo, Jr. raided the suspects’ lair that resulted to their arrest.

The raid also led to the recovery of 14 pieces assorted gold and diamond jewelries amounting to more or less 1.2 million pesos that was part of the more than two million pesos worth of loot that were stolen from the victims.

Apart from the jewelries, the lawmen also found a caliber .38 revolver loaded with one ammunition and one caliber 5.56 revolver with 6 live bullets and one ammunition for 12-gauge shotgun.

“Cases for theft and illegal possession of firearms in relation to Comelec gun ban are now being readied by Catbalogan police station for filing in court against the suspects,” the Regional Director added.

The top police official further informed that follow-up operations are also being conducted to recover the more than 800 thousand pesos worth of jewelries that were either sold or pawned by the suspects.