Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador believes that street hoodlums were behind the robbery at an internet café at Echavez Street in barangay Lorega-San Miguel early dawn yesterday.
“Mao na atong initial investigation nga nakuha nga the suspects are street hoodlums,” Comendador said. He said street hoodlums are members of gangs and fraternities, who commit crimes.
The six unidentified male robbers armed with handguns and bladed weapons went inside the EveryOnline 88.net Internet Café at around 2:00 a.m. yesterday and divested the people inside of cash and personal valuables.
Exequiel Trinidad, owner of the Internet café, lost P4,000 cash, a cellular phone worth P5,000, and one computer CPU worth P20,000.
The café’s attendant, Mark Jakosalem lost a wristwatch and a silver ring. He also suffered a contusion after he was hit by the butt of the gun when he tried to fight off one of the robbers.
Customers Rosemarie Gutierrez, Marissa Malazarte, Nodair Jesulga, Ernefel Beldad, and Jimmy Calledo were divested of their cellular phones.
According to the victims, the robbers fled onboard a waiting taxicab.
Comendador said he already instructed his men to conduct in-depth investigation on the matter considering that Lorega San Miguel is just adjacent to Barangay Zapatera, where street hoodlums are known to gather.
Just recently, Comendador created the Anti-Street Hoodlums Operating Team (A-Shot), which was primarily activated to solve street crimes.
Street crimes are one of the top peace and order concerns in the city. — Garry B. Lao/NLQ