Robbers shoot Indian couple; LBC branch robbed

CEBU – Unidentified robbers shot and seriously wounded an Indian couple in Talisay City, and robbed a branch of LBC in Minglanilla town in two separate incidents happening in just a span of 24 hours.

In Talisay City, two Indian nationals were seriously hurt after they were shot by three unidentified men who tried to rob them in sitio Tangub, barangay Lagtang, Talisay City around 5 p.m. last Friday. Police identified the victims as Baldev Singh, 34, and his partner Rani Geeta, 34, both residents of Southwinds Subdivision in that city.

The sustained several gunshot wounds to different parts of their bodies and are now being treated at Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City.

According to initial police investigation, Singh and Greeta, who own a lending business, were on their way home on board a motorcycle after collecting money from their clients when three men on board a black XRM motorcycle appeared.

The men then opened fire at the couple several times using an unknown firearm.

When the victims were lying in the ground after being hit, one of the suspects disembarked from the motorbike and walked towards them.

However, sensing that many people in the area were watching them, he immediately went back to his companions and they immediately fled.

The victims were then rushed to Talisay City District Hospital but were later transferred to Chong Hua Hospital.

Police said robbery was the motive for the incident although no money or any personal belongings of the victims were taken.

A police team investigating the incident has now the identity of one of the perpetrators based on accounts from one of the eyewitnesses. But it refused to identify the man pending further investigation.

In Minglanilla town, at least three unidentified robbers barged into a branch of LBC located in Poblacion Ward III around 12:30 p.m. yesterday and carted away more than P100,000 worth of cash and checks.

Elva Villareal, 23, a teller of the establishment, said while she was attending to her costumer, Anecito Udtuhan, two men entered their office and announced the robbery. She said one of the men was waiting outside.

As the two men inside the establishment pointed their .45 caliber pistols to Villareal, the teller immediately handed over the P14,000 proceeds of the establishment.

Not contended, the robbers also took Udtuhan’s more than P100,000 worth of checks, wallet and cell phone.

PO1 Jade Abreca, desk officer of Minglanilla Police Station, told dySS Super Radyo that Udtuhan thought of fighting the robbers but was afraid that they would kill him.

“Niingon nako si Udtuhan nga nisuway siya og gukod sa mga tulisan sa dihang nisibat na sila sakay sa motor. Nisakay man sad kuno siya og habal-habal pero wa na gyud niya maabti kay kusog kaayo nakapadagan ang mga tulisan,” Abreca said.

The LBC branch was 500 meters away from the police station but the Minglanilla police were informed only five minutes after the incident.

“Dugay gyud kaayo nakatawag sa estasyon ang teller kay ni una man siya ug tawag sa iyang amo, mao na nga pagresponde sa mga polis nakasibat na ang mga tulisan,” Abreca added.

Minglanilla police chief Sr. Insp. Romeo Santander said that after receiving the alarm, they immediately run after the robbers, who fled onboard a motorcycle to Talisay City.

He said he ordered his men to coordinate with the Talisay City police to block the road. But it was already too late as the robbers had already escaped.

Villareal described the driver of the motorcycle as chubby and dark. One of the two who entered the establishment stands at 5’4,” she said.

She describes the other as short and with white complexion. The three are in their 20s.

Abreca said it was easy for the robbers to hit the establishment since it has no security guards.

Santander also described the perpetrators as neophyte because of the way the robbery has been executed.

But he added that they received an intelligence report that some members of Kuratong Baleleng Gang are in Cebu. — With a report from Bentley Naire Luyong/LPM (THE FREEMAN)