Suspect in Italian holdup nabbed

POLICE arrested a man who was allegedly involved in robbing and wounding an Italian tourist, who is in Cebu City to attend the Sinulog festival.

James Belina, 25, was arrested in his home in barangay Lahug last Thursday night.

Belina denied involvement in the robbery, saying he was at home when Michele Loungo, 67, and his Italian companions were robbed in the early morning of Thursday.

Loungo was shot in both legs by one of the robbers after he resisted the holdup.

The foreigner is recuperating in a Cebu City hospital.

Belina said he was willing to undergo a paraffin test to clear his name.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Cebu city police chief, said at least three witnesses identified Belina as one of the robbers.

Belina was implicated in at least six other robbery cases in Cebu City.

An operation to arrest his cohorts is ongoing, said police.

Robbers took a blue bag with 5,000 euro equivalent to P360,000, plane tickets, an iPhone and P23,000 cash. CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON