1 of 3 suspects arrested over Batangas convenience store holdup

One of three suspects who allegedly robbed a convenience store in Sto. Tomas, Batangas last month has been arrested.

In a CCTV footage captured on June 26, the suspects were seen entering the convenience store posing as customers and suddenly pulled out their guns and pointed them at the employees, according to a report of GMA Integrated News’ John Consulta on Unang Balita on Tuesday. 

One of the suspects was seen hurting and kicking one of the workers.

The suspects took the money of the convenience store and fled towards the direction of Quezon Province. 

Police conducted backtracking of CCTV footage and spotted the three suspects in a restaurant in Candelaria, Quezon. 

“Sa pag-backtracking at pag-review namin ng footages, I think, in Candelaria ay medyo nag-relax itong grupo. Palibhasa malayo na. Kumain sa isang restaurant. Nag-alis ng face mask, mga sumbrero,” Sto. Tomas Police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlon Cabataña said. 

“At nakita din natin sa CCTV footage na doon sila naghatian ng kanilang mga parte. At that time nakakuha tayo ng mga identity,” he added.

A hot pursuit operation was launched that led to the arrest of one of the suspects who was seen in the CCTV footage hurting an employee. The shirt that he wore during the holdup incident was also seized from him. 

According to the report, the arrested suspect admitted to the crime. 

He said they were targeting another convenience store but they saw some police officers in the area. 

“May pulis daw po na naka-duty. Bumalik ulit kami. Nandoon pa rin daw po kaya sa iba na lang po kami humanap ng holdup,” he said. 

A follow up operation is still ongoing for the capture of the two other suspects who remain at large.

Police Regional Office 4A chief Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky said there have been a series of such incidents in their area. 

“We have a series of robbery incident that happened in Laguna and going to Batangas and some parts in Cavite,” he said.

“Siyempre kapag closing time alam mo na malaki ang collection ng kanilang benta. Nakita natin yung signature ng kanilang activity na seemingly this is the doing of one group,” he added.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News