Court defers arraignment of five suspects in P50-M Ozamiz heist After minor’s identity revealed

OZAMIZ CITY – A Misamis Occidental court has deferred the arraignment of five suspects in the ₱50-million robbery at Gaisano Capital Mall in Ozamiz City after it was revealed that one of the accused is a minor.

The Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 2, under Acting Presiding Judge Arnel Rempillo, was set to proceed with the arraignment and pre-trial conference on Friday, January 12, but the proceedings were halted when a parent of one of the accused informed the court that their child is underage.

Following the revelation, Judge Rempillo ordered the postponement of the arraignment and instructed the suspect’s parents to present a copy of the birth certificate to verify the claim.

The suspects, identified only by their aliases Jol, Abet, Bray, Ram, and another unnamed individual, face charges of Robbery in a Public Building for allegedly looting two jewelry shops and an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) inside Gaisano Capital Mall on January 1, 2024.

The heist, considered one of the biggest robberies in Mindanao’s history, involved suspects reportedly tunneling through the drainage system to gain access to the mall’s food court and jewelry shops. They managed to steal approximately ₱50 million worth of jewelry and cash, including ₱80,000 from an ATM.

A total of seven individuals filed charges against the suspects, leading to their arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

The criminal case, docketed as Criminal Case No. 11270, falls under the jurisdiction of the MTCC instead of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), as the penalty for Robbery in a Public Building carries a maximum sentence of six years upon conviction.

With the new development regarding the minor suspect, the court may reconsider the charges and refer the case to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) for appropriate handling under the Philippine juvenile justice system.

Further hearings are expected as the court verifies the suspect’s age and determines how to proceed with the prosecution of the remaining accused.