Victim shoots fleeing robber

CEBU, Philippines - After the Cebu Provincial Police Office organized a task force to focus against highway robberies in Midwestern Cebu, three robberies hit Cebu in recent days with the same modus and victimizing delivery men, mostly softdrinks and beer dealers. 

Last Saturday evening, a sales representative of a softdrink dealer lost P4,000 and two cellular phones worth P8,000 after he was held-up by unidentified men on board a motorcycle at sitio San Antonio, barangay Jubay, Liloan.

Police said 43-year-old Jaime Tariao of barangay Looc, Danao City was able to shoot one of the robbers, the backrider of the motorcycle used in the crime.

The two robbers wore black sweatshirts and covered their faces with a cloth.

Tariao of ABC-G Dealer claimed that he was sitting on a bench near a store while making a receipt for the ordered softdrinks when the two men on board a Honda XRM motorcycle stopped near him.

The backrider disembarked and approached him with a gun.

Out of fear, Tariao didn’t resist when the robber took the money in the left pocket of his cargo pants and his cellular phones in the right.

But before the robbers fled, Tariao said he was able to fire his caliber .45 pistol, hitting the back rider. He said the men didn’t notice the gun tucked in his waist as he covered it with his arms.

The Liloan Police immediately conducted a manhunt operation but failed to arrest the two.

Police Officer 2 Rotchel Jugalbot said they are now monitoring the hospitals.

Senior Police Officer 4 Remegio Elacion told The FREEMAN that they did not confiscate Tariao’s firearm after he showed a permit and license.

Last June 1, a sales agent of JJO Enterprises lost her P5,000 proceeds after she was held-up by motorcycle riding men in sitio Bagong Buhay, barangay Lutopan, Toledo City .

Alma Longakit, 33, of sitio Laray II, barangay Buanoy, Balamban said she was counting bottles of softdrinks beside their delivery truck parked along the road when a motorcycle stopped nearby.

The backrider approached her, poked a gun at her neck and grabbed her red bag containing the cash.

Longakit failed to identify the robbers who wore black jackets and close-type helmets. The plate number of the blue Honda Wave motorcycle was covered with a cloth.

On May 30, a beer dealer also lost about P324,000 after their saleslady was robbed by two unidentified men at sitio Cumbado, barangay Cantuod, Balamban.

This was the second time that Mikee and Riggs Marketing was held up by two unidentified men on board a motorcycle with no plate number.

The delivery truck was driven by Victor Pepito who was with Roel Pilones, 21, Rey Olasiman, 33 and Marilyn Villafranca, 29, of barangay 8, Tuburan and saleslady of the marketing.

Villafranca said a few minutes after they delivered cases beer in stores, two men wearing bonnets arrived on board a black XRM motorcycle.

One of the men poked a gun at them, demanding for their money. —(FREEMAN)