2 robbers escape with P800T cash

CEBU, Philippines - Two armed men on a motorcycle escaped with P800,000 cash and almost P1 million worth of checks after a robbery in Barangay Inayawan yesterday.

The robbery took place just as the victim Wella Rosal, 34, was about to arrive at a chicken slaughterhouse that she owned in Ocampo Drive.

Investigation showed that Rosal and her seven tenants were onboard an Elf van with license plate numbers YHW-170 on their way back after collecting payments from their customers in the Carbon Market when they were robbed at past 10 a.m.

Rosal said the money and checks were supposed to be deposited to the bank on Monday, as per their normal routine.

Last year in the same area, one of Rosal’s tenants was also robbed of P60,000 in cash collections.

“Sa una ang akong ahente, ako na gyud hinuon ang gitulis karon,” the businesswoman said.

Yesterday, the van was stuck in traffic tailing another car when two men on a motorcycle —both wearing helmets, black jackets and jeans— suddenly blocked their way.

The passenger alighted from the motorcycle and approached Rosal, who was sitting at the front seat and holding the bag that contained the money. The robber pointed a gun at her then demanded the bag.

Rosal said one of her employees tried to fight back by kicking the robber while they grappled for the bag.

However, the second robber approached and cocked his gun, prompting them to give the bag away. The robbers then fled on their motorcycle.

The robbers appeared to have been armed with a KG-9 pistol and a .45 cal. pistol, investigation revealed. The bag taken by the robbers also had Rosal’s licensed 9mm pistol.

The victims then proceeded to the slaughterhouse and Rosal asked for help from her husband.

Rosal’s husband then tried to chase the robbers towards the South Road Properties but to no avail.

Personnel of the Mobile Patrol Group, City Intelligence Branch, Special Weapons and Tactics team, Motorcycle Response Unit, and Pardo Police responded to the incident, but failed to locate the robbers.

Superintendent Artemio Ricabo, chief of the MPG, said they immediately implemented a roadblock around Talisay City, but this turned out to be futile as the robbers had already escaped.

Rosal was then escorted to the Pardo Police Station where the incident was reported, said Ricabo.  (FREEMAN)