3 men face charges for jeepney robbery

CEBU, Philippines - Three men are facing charges after they robbed and stabbed passengers of a Pardo-bound jeepney Wednesday evening and after one of them stabbed the owner of the house he tried to hide in.

A formal complaint for robbery and physical injuries were filed yesterday against Junrey Cosep, 21, of barangay Mambaling; and Patrick Lumaban, 22, and Niño Tabuco, 20, of barangay Inayawan. The fourth suspect eluded arrest.

Investigation showed that the suspects boarded a jeepney plying the 10H route in barangay Pardo and declared a hold-up when the vehicle reached barangay Duljo Fatima.

Pointing a gun and a knife at the other passengers, they took the bag of Mary Flowella Dioanaldo, which contained a book worth P500 and a purse with P200 cash and the bag of Agustin Paredes, which contained a mobile phone worth P17,000, a purse with P600 cash, and various identification cards.

One passenger, Cyrie Marie Watin, who refused to give her bag, was stabbed several times. Watin’s bag contained a mobile phone worth P7,000 and an identification card.

After getting Watin’s bag, the suspects immediately disembarked and ran towards sitio Chicago in barangay Duljo Fatima. Paredes then shouted for help, which prompted residents in the area to run after the suspects. 

Cosep, the suspect with the knife, entered the house of a certain Jovanne Cabante who, at that time, was watching television with his live-in partner Mary Jane Alferez at the store of his neighbor.

An unsuspecting Cabante sustained stab wounds to different parts of his body when he turned on the light upon returning to his house.

Residents in the neighborhood and policemen from the Theft and Robbery Section subsequently arrested the three suspects.

Cabante and Watin are recuperating at the Cebu City Medical Center. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)