Police are set to file a criminal complaint against the arrested suspect and nine John Does in Saturday’s daring broad daylight robbery of Sarabia Pawnshop and Jelwery Store at corner Guanco and JM Basa Sts., Iloilo City.

Supt. Kim Legada, Iloilo City Police Station 1 chief, said that Ernesto Estrella, Jr., 45, of Sitio Dapdap, Gen. Hughes St., City Proper, and his nine cohorts will be charged for robbery in band.

Estrella was positively identified by the establishment’s guard as the one of the suspects who robbed the store.

He was arrested on the evening of January 12. His identity was temporarily withheld pending follow-up investigation.

Legada said that Estrella has string of criminal offense attached to his name.

He was previously involved in homicide, frustrated homicide, and robbery, among others. 

But Estrella denied his involvement and claimed no knowledge on his purported cohorts.

Even Legada admitted that they are yet to identify Estrella’s group.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6, ordered a thorough investigation and immediate arrest of the suspects. 

He also directed newly-installed Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro, to seize the “golden 48 hours” of the investigation.

“Dapat  walang pahinga ang imbestigasyon natin at tuloy-tuloy lang. Bawal muna ang bakasyon. Dapat 24/7 ang operasyon na gagawin natin ditto,” he said. 

Earlier, Rep. Jerry Treñas of the lone district of Iloilo City offered a P100,000 for those who could point to the suspects that robbed his in-laws’ jewelry store. *