POLICEMAN’S BROTHER ARRESTED FOR ROBBERY

Identified as suspect is John Michael Alpas, brother of PO2 Jeffrey Alpas, traffic investigator of Barili Police Station.

Suspects barge into house of Barili resident, hurt helper; two other suspects being pursued by police

The brother of a police officer was arrested for allegedly taking part in the robbery in the house of an overseas worker in Barangay Poblacion, Barili last Sunday afternoon.

PO3 Gilbert Encabo identified the suspect as John Michael Alpas, the brother of PO2 Jeffrey Alpas, traffic investigator of Barili Police Station.

He was caught by the police at 10:50 p.m. Sunday.

John Michael was identified by his girlfriend Irene Aratia as one of the three men who barged inside the house of Bernardino Dandan, who employs Aratia as his house help.

Encabo said that Aratia was not held hostage by the suspects.

Suspects forced Aratia to divulge where Dandan kept his money, but she refused. Aratia was alone in the house as her employer was in Manila.

One of the suspects broke a bottle and grazed her skin with its sharp edge.

The culprits then threw her outside the house.

She was brought to the hospital for treatment of her wounds, but she was released yesterday.

Aratia told the police she was not raped.

The three men took P5,000 and other items inside a white envelope.

Encabo said they are still pursuing the other suspects and investigators are looking into the possibility that Aratia conspired with the culprits.

Aratia, however, denied to the police that she knew about the culprits’ plan.

For his part, John Michael denied participation in the robbery.

He said he went to Toledo City with his friends to cook food for an event.

After he was told that Aratia accused him as one of the robbers, John Michael went to Toledo City Police Station at 6:20 p.m. Sunday and tried to clear his name, telling the police his girlfriend had lied.

Toledo City police, at the time, received an information from their counterparts in Barili about John Michael’s alleged participation in the robbery.

He was still arrested by the police after he was identified by Aratia.