An 18-year-old man accused of robbing a gasoline station in Tagbilaran City was shot dead by still unidentified suspects in broad daylight and in front of several witnesses in Carmen, while two of the victim’s alleged robbery cohorts, one of whom is part of the so-called Espinosa Drug Group, are now in police custody.
Victim Ryan Udarbe who was visiting his girlfriend in Barangay Tambuan, Carmen town died on the spot after sustaining two gunshot wounds in the head.
According to Carmen Police Station chief Maj. Jodel Torregosa, Udarbe was shot by two motorcycle-riding men who wore full-face helmets and rode in tandem outside a variety store at past 2 p.m. on Friday.
Torregosa said that they are still facing a blank wall as to the motive of the fatal shooting, but noted that the victim was a known robber in Tagbilaran City.
“Maglisod ta sa [motive] kay taga Tagbilaran mangud ‘nya hing kalit ra og abot aning Carmen…Naay nakakita sa [suspects] pero di ma-ilhan kay gahelmet man. Basta ang record anang tawhana tulisan, unya na filan nana og kaso sa Tagbilaran,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tagbilaran City Police Station chief Lt. Col. Christopher Navida confirmed that Udarbe early on Friday was charged with robbery along with two others, Jerson Ugat, 20, and Quirino Reyes, 26, a member of the drug group of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
According to Navida, Reyes who was previously arrested in Cebu City for a drug charge admitted that he is part of the Espinosa Group. Both Ugat and Udarbe have also been tagged as drug personalities in Tagbilaran City.
In a report, police said that Udarbe was positively identified by employees of a gasoline station in Barangay Cabawan, Tagbilaran City which he and one “Bano” robbed on Wednesday.
Udarbe and Bano, who is still at large, held the cashier at gunpoint and stole over P7,000.
On Tuesday, Udarbe, Reyes and Ugat allegedly robbed two college students by pointing a gun and two knives at them in Barangay Taloto in Tagbilaran City carting away cellphones, a bag and cash.
The victims immediately after the incident alerted the police who in turn launched a hot pursuit operation which resulted in the arrest of Reyes on the same day.
According to police, Ugat who was accompanied by his mother surrendered on Wednesday to the Tagbilaran City Police Station and admitted to being behind the robbery of the two students in Taloto.
Following the killing of Udarbe, the Tagbilaran City police confirmed with the Carmen police that the slain robbery suspect was in possession of some of the items stolen from the victims in Taloto. (W. Maetsrado with A. Doydora)