CEBU, Philippines - Some criminals have found an opportunity to strike while most people, including policemen, are busy monitoring the result of the boxing match between Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto yesterday afternoon.
At around 1 p.m., two women fell victim to two suspected robbers while they were on board a passenger jeepney along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.
Jesel Martines, 20, and Danica Selvio, 18, both residents of Lawis, Barangay Lorega were robbed of their cash totaling to P770.
The victims claimed they were boarding the jeepney on their way to downtown Colon and when they reached the vicinity of Ester Enterprises on Osmeña Bouevard, the suspects suddenly pulled poked a gun at them and declared the hold-up.
The two women described the robbers as at their early 20s, with one of them standing at 5’2 tall, chubby, wearing a black T-shirt, with mustache and curly hair.
In another incident, a certain Gilbert Igot was arrested by police from San Nicolas Police Station for alleged indiscriminate firing at 1:48 p.m. yesterday in Barangay Suba-Pasil.
On the other hand, police also said that a man from Barangay Talamban also reported that his bike was stolen while he was busy watching the boxing fight.
Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador said that so far, these were only the reported incidents yesterday.
Despite these petty crimes, he said the peace and order situation during the historic boxing match between the two great boxers was generally peaceful.
Comendador revealed that the police usually respond to more than 10 alarms during Sundays but yesterday’s crime rate was comparatively low. — Niña G. SumacotWAB (THE FREEMAN)