Ozamiz group behind Daring Davao Pawnshop Robbery

Davao City (MindaNews/6 Mar)-a little eight former splinter members in the notorious Ozamiz robbery group were behind the pawn and jewelry in Hannah in Illustre Street, here, February 26, the police said.

Col. Hansel Marantan, the director of the police in the city, said in a press conference at the Davao Police Office, on Thursday afternoon, that Criminal Gându Tountino, a group of former members of the Ozamis group, planned operations since December 2024.

Marantan said that at least eight suspects were involved in the wide day -to -day robbery, where the suspects were removed from 40 million jewelry worth 40 million.

Of these eight, only Johnny Bulawan, who acknowledged that he used a sled to destroy jewelry containers, was arrested.

Marantan said that a certain Marvin “father” Beronguis drove the robbery, as Bulawan confessed.

Beronguis is still widely among other seven suspects. Police identified the other six as Jimmy “Jerome” Cal, Jade Lasula Dadang, a certain “Rodolfo”, alias “Jack”, an unidentified woman and an unidentified man.

The police claimed that the suspects could be under the influence of drugs before and during the robbery. „Hindi Sila Norma na Tao. They were monsters at the time, “said Marantan.

As Marant said, Bulawan met with Beronguis in Argao, CEBU in December 2024, then at a later date, both Bulawan and Beronguis met with Cal in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental to plan or research the Davao City pawns.

Surveying or “housing”, said Marantan, happened in mid-January 2025, while the suspects drove an undisclosed vehicle from Gingoog to Davao City.

Around 10 pm on February 24, Cal, together with Bulawan and “Jack”, and drove his own Toyota Innova from Gingoog to Davao City, reaching Davao at 5 in February 25.

About the same time, Dandang left the city of Tangub in Western Misamis and reached 5 in the morning.

Then they met near SM City Davao and booked rooms at Twin H Inn and Jackbell Inn, both located in the Aplay morning, and remained overnight, before committing the robbery on February 26.

Marantan stressed that the suspects have really planned to plunder the specific pawn bank.

In an interview with reporters, Bulawan, who is closed in the DCPO’s headquarters, said they robbed the pawn lamp because of his Laxi Security.

When asked about their intentions why Davao City and why during the wide light, he said that one of their members said they would “create only chaos” in the city.

“I hesitated to go to Davao City, but I can’t go back because I don’t have a fare to return home,” Bulawan told Cebuano.

Marantan said he immediately thought of the Ozamiz group after finding out that one of the suspects, in particular, arrested Bulawan, wore an M-16 rifle. The members of the group, he said, usually wore storm rifles. The use of Sledgehammers is an Ozamiz group practice, the police chief added.

But he said that the Ozamiz group is no longer as capable as once. Marantan added that before, the group had a leader, who is now dead. “The Ozamiz group no longer has centralized leadership,” he said.

Marantan said that the Ozamiz group is a known criminal tape for its involvement in armed robberies, drug trafficking and other organized offenses. He was tied to the large heists, including banking and pawn robberies, he added.

Gang had several running with the authorities, which led to deadly arrests and shootings, which Marantan said he included the main operation of the 2017 police, which led to the death of the group leader, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and several of his family members.

Despite the criticisms of social networks that the police arrived at the place of the crime or organized the robbery, the chief of the police said he responded “in a minute”, a statement rejected by a representative of the songs.

The commander of the Police Section of San Pedro, Emmanuel Manlatatican, said they have already put mobile patrols near the area, in addition to the central 911 force multipliers who respond during operations.

A representative of Hannah’s pieces and jewelry who refused to be identified said they were “traumatized” with what happened that they are now under psychological therapy.

The representative, who spoke during the police conference, said he was 10 minutes away, but arrived at the pawnshop before the police. “I have so many questions in my mind,” she added.

In response, Marantan acknowledged that their answer to the robbery was “imperfect”.

He said this because the robbers ran in different directions as they fled, and the police confused.

Marantan then said that the robbery was an isolated case and that Davao City is “very sure”.

However, he acknowledged that DCPO does not directly coordinate with Mayor Sebastian “Baste”, but only through the head of the Public Security and Security Office, Angel Sumgaysay. PSSO is under the office of the mayor of the city.

The mayor and head of the police were not in good conditions after the Philippine National Police frequently changed the city police director.

Mayor Duterte said that the suspects could have been asked to plunder the pawn lam for a reward. He also added that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Philippine National Police are “very long for criminals”, thus encouraging the latter to stagger similar incidents.

Marantan said he was not the “politician’s police. I’m a people’s police. “He added:” I’m here to protect Dabawenyos. ” (Ian Carl Espinosa / Mindanews)