3 suspects tagged in Balete highway robbery remain at large

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Authorities filed charges against three suspects behind the highway robbery in Balete, Aklan. The armed robbers also took P228,000 from the victims. The suspects are still at large.

Police Inspector Lizel Goboy identified the suspects as Ahmad Dedato, 23, alias Torke and Norhalim Macabidar, 23, alias Titanic, both are natives of Salvador, Lanao del Norte and presently residing in Noor Allah Village in Camanci Norte, Numancia, Aklan. The third suspect remains unidentified.

Titanic apparently hitched a ride in Barangay Bulwang in Numancia in the afternoon of August 29. Delivery van driver Almer Emblarinag, 34, of San Jose, Antique and Jonard Pacheco, 41, of Iloilo City were on their way home to Iloilo City when the robbery happened.

Police said the suspect ordered the driver to stop the delivery van along the national highway of Sitio Bangbang in Barangay Feliciano.  Titanic told the victims their tricycle had a flat tire and his two companions were waiting for help.

When the van stopped near the parked tricycle, Torke approached the van and drew a .38-caliber to Emblarinag. Titanic then declared the robbery and struck the victims in their head and face with mallet.

The suspects took away the clutch bag containing P228,000 and fled onboard their get-away tricycle towards the direction of Banga, Aklan.

The victims, who are employees of Show Pirot Merchandise in Iloilo City, sought police assistance in Balete municipal police station in Balete, Aklan. They were initially brought to Balete Rural Health Unit and later transferred to Panay Health Care Multi-purpose Cooperative in Kalibo, Aklan for treatment.

Police said Titanic and Torke were positively identified by the victims in the police files for Muslims residing in Numancia, Aklan. The suspects were also customers of their ukay-ukay business.  

The three suspects are facing violations of Presidential Decree No. 532 or Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery Law of 1972 under I.S. No. INV-18H-00466 before the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Kalibo, Aklan on August 31.

Solay Hadjiunos, Muslim leader of Noor Allah Village, urged the suspects to surrender to authorities.

“Sumuko na kayo. Huwag ninyong idamay ang kapwa nating kapatid na Muslim,” he added.