Chinese, 2 others abducted, robbed

CEBU, Philippines — A businessman and two others were robbed and abducted by unidentified persons at Carbon Public Market, Cebu City on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Talisay City police confirmed that three men were found tied and blindfolded inside an abandoned white van in Barangay Campo 4.

The victims were identified as Jason Montero Co, 49, a Chinese national and businessman; Virgilio Zanzan Lerin, 46, and a 16 years old.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Randy Caballes, chief of the Talisay City Police Station, the robbers took at least P100,000 in cash, cellphones, ATM cards and other important items from the victims.

At 8 o'clock in the morning on Monday, the three men were said to be loading stocks in Co's car at the Carbon Public Market when four men approached and robbed them and forced them into the van.

Their arms and legs were tied and their eyes were blindfolded and they were taken to Barangay Campo 4 in Talisay City.

After taking away the important belongings of the victims, the suspects ran away.

A barangay tanod in the area noticed the parked van on the highway and rescued the victims.

The victims were brought to the barangay hall and the businessman's relatives were contacted.

Following the incident, Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director, Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, said personnel of Waterfront Police Station 3 of the Cebu City Police Office and Talisay City Police Station continued to investigate the incident.

Authorities are now looking for CCTV footage at the Carbon Market since no one in the area noticed a commotion during the incident.

Waterfront Police Station 3 and Talisay City Police Station are working together in the investigation to clarify what really happened.

“Right now as our coordination with the police stations concerned this is still an open investigation nothing yet is final, we are not concluding nga tinuod or dili tinuod nga gitulis,” said Pelare.  — FREEMAN)