Rota mayor’s son is arrested for alleged armed robbery

Police arrested on Monday a son of Rota Mayor Joseph Inos for allegedly robbing a poker arcade on Rota.

Wilbur Vic Masga Inos, 25, was detained for robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault.

A $75,500 cash bail was initially imposed for Wilbur Inos’ temporary liberty. He was set to appear for a bail hearing at the Saipan Superior Court yesterday afternoon.

Detective George A. Barcinas stated in his report that when interrogated, Wilbur Inos surrendered the money and explained that he only did it because his son is in critical condition in Guam.

The amount of money was not indicated in the report.

Barcinas said a black AR-15 rifle, its magazine and three rounds of bullets were also recovered.

Police investigation showed that on Monday at 4:14am, a man had called the Rota Department of Public Safety, requesting assistance after an unknown person armed with a gun robbed the Rota Poker.

Police Sergeant Eusebio Manglona responded to the poker arcade and talked with the victim, who described the suspect as a masked man wearing a camouflage outfit. The victim told police that the suspect had pointed a rifle at him and demanded money.

Sgt. Mendiola then viewed the security camera of the establishment and determined that the footage corroborated the victim’s statement.

The report did not indicate whether the victim is an employee or a customer of the establishment.

Detective Barcinas said a witness told Sgt. Manglona that he saw a short guy wearing camouflage clothes and a dark mask carrying a rifle and running across the Melchor Mendiola Memorial Park. The witness said the masked person was seen heading toward the barracks owned by Mayor Inos.

Sgt. Manglona proceeded on foot toward Mayor Inos’ barracks where he spotted two individuals approaching a silver pickup truck that was parked in the front yard. With his gun ready, Sgt. Manglona ran toward the vehicle and ordered the two individuals to get off the vehicle.

The officer identified the passenger as Wilbur Inos and the person on the driver’s side as Romy de Guzman. Wilbur Inos was allegedly seen sweating profusely and was only wearing a black underwear.

Wilbur Inos asked the officer what was going on, while De Guzman explained that he had just woken up and was going to drop his boss [Wilbur] at his house in the Liyu area.

When Sgt. Manglona asked Inos why he was only dressed in his underwear and where the rest of his clothes were, Wilbur Inos reportedly responded that the officer would do the same thing when it comes to his situation.

When the police officer asked him where the money and the gun were, the defendant allegedly gave the same answer.

Wilbur Inos then took out a green plastic bag from inside the truck’s passenger side and placed it on top of the wooden toolbox on the truck’s bed.

Wilbur Inos reportedly told the officer, “There’s the money” and that he did it only because his son in Guam is in critical condition and might die.

The defendant allegedly kept asking the officer to just let him go and pretend that the officer never caught him.

Detective Barcinas said that when he arrived at the mayor’s barracks, he heard Sgt. Manglona asking Wilbur Inos where he hid the gun.

Barcinas said Wilbur Inos told them that the rifle was at the back side of the barracks, but did not give specific details as to where he had placed the weapon.

Wilbur Inos allegedly stated there were three Filipinos who took the rifle and that it was part of their plan.

Sgt. Manglona saw a ladder extending to the roof of the barracks and instructed Barcinas to check the roof. Barcinas climbed the ladder and saw the rifle with its magazine intact on the roof.

At 5:25am that day, Wilbur Inos was transported to the police station for processing.