Caloocan principal stabbed by robber

The principal of an elementary school in Caloocan City was stabbed and injured with an ice pick on board a passenger jeepney by a holdup man yesterday morning and lost some P200,000 in cash and valuables.

Inspector Alberto David, Caloocan City police Station Investigation Branch (SIB) chief, said Carolina Trillana-Guevara, 55, widow, the principal of the Bonifacio Elementary School along Torres Bugallon Street in Caloocan City and resident of 687 Cavite Street, Gagalangin, Tondo, was on her way to a meeting of the Philippine Elementary School Principals Association (PESPA) in Marikina when the incident happened.

SPO2 Antonio Penaranda said Guevarra lost P50,000 in cash and about P100,000 in four checks belonging to the PESPA, various bank ATM cards and passbooks, her wallet containing personal cash in different currencies and unspecified amounts, professional identification and health cards and other personal documents and a key to her personal safety vault. Guevarra, who is treasurer of PESPA’s Caloocan City chapter, also lost her Nokia 8810 worth about P21,000.

The suspect who alighted with the victim’s tote bag along A. Mabini corner Kabulusan street in Caloocan City, was described by the victim as between 25 to 29, about 5’7" tall, slim, brown complexioned, and wearing a white t-shirt and khaki shorts.

At the police station, a bandaged and bothered but still poised Guevarra, who sustained a deep puncture wound in the left arm, narrated her ordeal.

Guevarra said she boarded a Sangandaan-bound passenger jeepney in front of the Lakandula. High School along Cavite Street in Tondo at around six in the morning, on her way to the Division Office on 10th Avenue in Caloocan City, the Caloocan principals’ meeting place, before proceeding to the PESPA meeting in Barangka, Marikina.

She said the suspect boarded the jeepney along Hermosa Sreet in Manila and sat on her right side. She then received a phone call, took out her cellphone from her bag and put it back soon after. Nearing Maypajo, the suspect told the driver to stop. As he stood up, the suspect grabbed Vergara’s bag, which was slung on her shoulder. The victim resisted but was stabbed in the left arm with an ice pick. As she cried out in pain, she was forced to let go of her bag containing the cash and valuables and the suspect jumped out of the vehicle unmolested.

Meanwile, a 10-month-old baby boy died while his father Crisostomo, was critically injured in a fire caused by the baby’s five-year-old brother in Marikina City, Tuesday afternoon.

SFO1 Jack Ada, said that Hanz Ian Buenviaje suffered third degree burns and is in critical condition at the East Ave Medical Center.

Ada added that at around 1:11 p.m., the brother of Hanz, Bryan, 5, a kindergarten pupil went to the second floor of their house on Quarts St., Twinville Subdivision, Parang, Marikina City to play.

According to Ada, Bryan burned pieces of his notebook with a disposable lighter. Crisostomo failed to notice what Bryan was doing since he was sleeping downstairs.

When the fire started to spread, Bryan’s father was awakened. Crisostomo immediately rushed to the second floor where the fatality was sleeping to save him. – Non Alquitran