Highway thieves rob bus anew in Caraga

BAYUGAN, Agusan del Sur — After a hiatus of few days by highway robbers, robbery of passenger vehicles in Caraga Region struck anew this time just few meters away from a barangay tanod outpost of this town.

Police said the Tandag, Surigao del Sur-bound passenger bus from Butuan City owned by Bachelor Express Inc. bearing body number 3054 driven by Alberto Parnes were held up by three armed robbers, the other one holding a hand grenade along the national highway in Barangay Hamogaway of this town past 6 p.m last night.

Initial police investigation claimed that while cruising the national highway, three suspected thieves annouced a holdup threatening to blew up the bus with a hand grenade if passengers fail to cooperate.

One of the suspects, pointed his caliber .45 pistol to the driver and holding a hand grenade, the other two started divesting all the passengers with cash, valuable items and belongings like mobile phones and jewelries.

Two of the victims, Dr. Carmelin Lozada lost her diamond earrings, gold ring, latest model of mobile phone and cash of P50,000 while another victim, a trader from Lianga, Surigao del Sur, Catalino Mordeno lost his P20,000 cash to the robbers. — Ben Serrano