Cops nabs suspect in robbing Tacloban bizman

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
July 29, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) urged the public to be extra vigilant to avoid being victimized by criminal elements following the arrest of a 29-year old jobless man who robbed a scion of a prominent family at a mall in Tacloban City and carnapped the victim’s luxury vehicle on Friday afternoon.

“Criminals always look for opportunities to strike, the public must be extra careful and report any suspicious-looking person or any information on crime activities to the police so we can act immediately,” said PCSupt. Elmer R. Soria, director of PRO8.

Soria identified the suspect as Jeffrey Salvacion, 29, single who was arrested by the police in a follow-up operation at his residence at Brgy. Guindaohan, Barugo town in Leyte where he hid after robbing businessman Elmer Mercado, 32, single, of Phase 5, Tangil street, V&G subdivision in Tacloban City.

Investigation disclosed that Mercado had just watched movie at Robinson’s Movieworld at around 5:30 p.m. and was about to get his car parked at the Robinson’s Place parking area infront of Gerry’s Grill but was surprised when upon seating at the driver’s seat, the ballcap-wearing suspect was already at the backseat and pointed a bladed weapon locally known as “kutsilyo” to his neck and declared hold-up.

The suspect demanded P100,000 from the victim in exchange for his liberty and to avoid being hurt but Mercado countered for a lesser amount of P20,000 in which the suspect agreed.

The two drove to Petron gasoline station owned by the victim’s family some 100 meters away in Marasbaras district also in Tacloban City for Mercado to get money from the gas station cashier and a pay-off was made.

Suspect fled using the victim’s black Toyota Fortuner with plate number HBA 546 while the victim, who was left unhurt, immediately reported the incident to Police Station 1 of Tacloban City Police Station.

An alarm on the carnapped vehicle was immediately flashed and hot pursuit operation was conducted leading to the arrest of the suspect in Barugo town at past 8:00 p.m. and the recovery of the victim’s vehicle with the cash amounting to P19,500 and the bladed weapon used in the commission of the crime.

Cases for robbery and carnapping were already filed against Salvacion who is currently detained at the Tacloban police lock-up cell.