Police Insp. Belshazzar Villanoche, chief of police of Buruanga, Aklan identified those arrested as Jeremiah Pilapil of Don Esteban, Lapaz, Iloilo City and Rex and Julis surnamed Delos Reyes from West Timawa, Molo, Iloilo City.

According to Senior Supt. Ren Darroca, Antique Police Director the suspects were on board a black car when arrested by cops manning a checkpoint in Pandan around 12:00 noon.

He said that Pandan PNP immediately conducted a checkpoint after the neighboring Libertad PNP alerted them of a heist in Brgy. Bagumbayan, Buruanga, Aklan near the Antique-Aklan boundary happened around 11 a.m.

The suspects robbed at gunpoint the employees of the two delivery panel owned by Universal Robina Corporation (URC). The suspects carted away cash, mobile phones and personal belongings of the victims.

Cesar Calopez, driver of one the delivery truck said that they were driving along the national highway when they were waylaid by the suspects. They were ordered to go inside the truck and took their cellphones. After the incident the suspects fled towards Libertad.

He said that the suspects were five men wearing bonnets where two of them were using a motorcycle as their lookout. After the robbery, the three immediately fled while the two used a motorcycle as their getaway vehicle.

Darroca said that two of the suspects were former policemen. Pilapil has the rank of a PO1 but was dismissed while Rex Delos Reyes has the rank of SPO1 and is presently on AWOL status.

Recovered from the suspects were 1 M79 grenade launcher with telescope, 1 UZI machine pistol with silencer, 1 12 gauge shot gun, 1 45 caliber pistol (ranger hicap), 1 .22 caliber pistol, 8 pieces of assorted type of hand grenade with pouch, twenty six rounds of 40 mm live ammunitions of M79, seven rounds of .45 caliber ammunitions, five 12 gauge shotgun ammunitions, one hundred rounds of 9mm ammunitions, two rounds of .22 caliber ammuntiins, six magazine for UZI pistol, one .45 pistol holster, six magazines puch for M79, six pieces of plate numbers and other mechanical tools.

Darroca said that they are investigating if the three were members of a criminal syndicate operating in Iloilo City engaged in robbery and other criminal acts. The two suspects identity will be determined upon the results of interrogation being conducted at the suspects.

Meanwhile, Darroca said that the three suspects will face strings of criminal charges among them are illegal possession of illegal weapons, explosives and robbery in band. They will also face usurpation of authority since they claimed during arrest that they were cops.

Darroca furthered because some of the suspects were former cops the reason they possess such high powered firearms.

The suspects were put into inquest proceedings at the Provincial Prosecutor yesterday and will be detained at BJMP detention cell in San Jose.