Police Nab Serial Robbery Suspects in San Fernando
Two young men were successfully apprehended by responding police officers in San Fernando City after attempting to rob a second establishment in Barangay Balud on Friday night, November 28, 2025. The suspects, who had earlier robbed a store in Barangay Sangat, were cornered following a dramatic police chase.
Details of the Criminal Spree
The incident began when the two suspects, identified as alias John, 24, a former merchandiser, and alias Boy, 16, both residents of Villa Bulsita, Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City, first targeted the J and E Store in Barangay Sangat, San Fernando. At approximately 11:00 PM, they entered the store armed with a weapon and declared a robbery.
The victims—store owner Cecilio Briones Tago Jr., 53, cashier Justin Recopelacion Roma, 19, and salesclerk Jacklyn Lawas Barbadillo, 40—were unable to resist as the suspects brandished their firearm. The robbers successfully escaped with P6,000 in cash from the store and personal belongings from one of the employees, fleeing on their motorcycle towards Naga City.
The Police Response and Arrest
Roma and Barbadillo immediately reported the crime to the San Fernando Police Station, providing witnesses' descriptions of the motorcycle, including its black and white plate number. While en route to the first crime scene, police officers led by Police Major Michael Gingoyon noticed a commotion at a 24-hour convenience store in Barangay Balud.
As their patrol car with blinking lights approached, a citizen alerted them to another ongoing robbery attempt. The suspects, spotting the police vehicle, abandoned their plan and fled on their motorcycle. Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation, chasing the suspects into the interior part of Barangay Balud towards a mountainous area of the town, where they were successfully cornered and arrested at approximately 11:30 PM.
Evidence and Charges Filed
During body searches, police recovered substantial evidence from the suspects: three sachets of shabu, two .38 caliber pistols with two live ammunition rounds, and P4,000 in cash identified as belonging to the J and E Store.
According to Police Major Gingoyon, the victims were called to the police station where they positively identified the two men as their assailants. The police chief added that the suspects were relatively new to robbery and had confessed to previously robbing an establishment in Carcar City.
The suspects are currently detained at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station and are facing multiple charges including Robbery, Attempted Robbery, violations of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
