Woman robbed, shot in Toledo

CEBU, Philippines - A businesswoman was robbed and killed last Tuesday evening in Sitio DasCC, Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City.

Maria Belen Santillan, 59, was on her way home from her business establishment, Santillan Enterprises, just across the road to her house when she was fatally shot twice in the chest.

Motorcycle-for-hire drivers rushed her to the clinic in Carmen Copper Corporation but she was declared dead on arrival. Police believe that she was robbed because she owned the establishment that sells construction materials and was also encashing checks.

PO3 Alfredo Barquin, Lutopan police investigator, said Santillan was carrying her bag containing cash and checks and was about to enter the corner to her house around 7:00 in the evening when two men robbed her.

According to barangay councilman Steve Santillan, son of the victim, there were four checks amounting to more than P100,000 each and an undetermined amount of proceeds.

Barquin suspected Santillan resisted when robbers forcibly took her shoulder bag, prompting them to shoot her.

Robbers were onboard a black Honda Wave motorcycle with no plate number. They sped off towards Barangay Can-tabaco. Two empty shells of caliber .45 pistol were found from the scene.

Based on the accounts of those who were around, people were not really paying much attention to the robbers because they thought they were just motorcycle-for-hire drivers. — (FREEMAN)