CEBU, Philippines - A cigarette company lost P196,000 to robbers when its salesman and driver were robbed in the southern town of Alcoy last Thursday morning.
The salesman himself lost his gold ring worth P12,000 to the suspects.
The salesman was identified as Romel Estonilo, 33, a resident of Lapu-Lapu City and the driver was identified as Johnny Oliveros, 26, a resident of Ginatilan town.
Investigation revealed that the victims went to Alcoy to collect from clients there. When they disembarked from their van at a store in Barangay Atabay, the two suspects who were drinking soft drinks at that time pulled out their guns and declared a holdup.
PO2 Erlan Salonoy of the Alcoy Police said it appeared that the suspects had been taking note of the victims’ collection schedule.
“Giatngan na ni nila (suspects) daan ang sakyanan sa biktima, mura’g dugay na ning gipanid-an nila ug kahibaw na sila unsang adlawa mangolekta ang biktima,†Salonoy said.
To buy time for escape, the suspects locked the victims inside the van before fleeing on board a Honda Wave motorcycle to a mountain barangay.
Residents in the area were the ones who freed the victims. — Athena Bea T. Del Carmen and Juliet C. Cardente, CNU Interns/JMO (FREEMAN)