A Special Operation Team under the supervision of Sr. Supt. Willie Dangane, chief of the Regional Investigation and Intelligence Division (RIID) No.12 in General Santos City, led the arrest of 34-year-old Edgar Berad Venecario alias Steve, resident of Barangay Bitan-Agan in Butuan City.
The operatives recovered from Venecario’s possession a caliber .22 Magnum revolver with five rounds of ammunition, a large black traveling bag containing peso bills and coins amounting to some P155,000, one unit revolver caliber .22 Magnum with five rounds of ammunition, a blue brand new motorcycle, and several documents.
Venecario reportedly led the group that staged a big holdup robbery in Caloocan City in Metro Manila just recently.
In a press statement, the Police Regional Office-12 said that based on the account of an informant, Venecario and three other members of the robbery gang were monitored to have set up a temporary hideout in Purok 2, Sitio Sto. Niño in Barangay Apupong, General Santos City.
Venecario’s three other companions who eluded arrest when police raided the safe house were identified as Naazon Dapin Nacoria (alias Allan and Pagong), 21 years old, and a resident of No. 10 Mabolo Potrero, Malabon, Metro Manila; Lito Mejorada (alias Boyet) of Surigao City; and Ornanette Baroy Dagpin (alias Nanet), 26 years old, and a resident of Purok 2, Sto. Niño in Barangay Apupong, General Santos City.
Venecario was then brought to the PRO-12 headquarters in General Santos City for documentation while a case for violation of Presidential Decree 1866, or illegal possession of firearms and explosives, is being prepared against him for filing in court.
Reports from PRO-12 said that they had been conducting follow-up operations against Venecario’s other companions believed to be carrying big sums of money taken from their victim in Caloocan City.
They had already coordinated with the Caloocan City Police as regards the robbery case of the group. (Malu Cadeliña Manar / MindaNews)