Robbers first hit Pepsi, then Coke delivery trucks

CEBU, Philippines - Less than a week after a sales agent and driver of a Pepsi-Cola Company delivery truck were robbed in Catmon, another delivery truck driver, this time of Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils. Inc., was robbed by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men past 1 p.m. last Thursday in Jubay, Liloan.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Jesus Gaquing said the robbers that victimized the delivery trucks of the two soft drink companies may be the same persons.

Jaime Tario, 41, resident of Looc, Danao City and sales driver of Coca-Cola was robbed in the afternoon of July 10 in Liloan town.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, SPO1 Marlon Yrog-Irog of Liloan Police Station said Tario was driving the company truck with plate numbers YBZ-576 and stopped in front of Medillos beach resort to supposedly deliver cases of soft drinks to a nearby sari-sari store when the robbers appeared.

The perpetrators allegedly sat on the front seat and one of them, allegedly wearing blue and white stripes T-shirt and jeans, poked a handgun at his forehead and demanded for his money and cellular phone that were placed inside his polo shirt’s pocket.

However, Tario allegedly tried to resist by throwing his cellular phone to his back that prompted the robber to slap him and hit his left hand with the gun. The suspects succeeded in taking P5,000 cash representing the day’s delivery income of the victim.

The victim claimed he was able to free himself by passing through the other door of the truck while the robbers boarded a motorcycle that was parked nearby and sped away.

On Friday last week, Pepsi-Cola sales agent Joynez Bojos Seno, 19, and truck driver Esterlito Ejem Bojos, 40, were delivering soft drink products to a sari-sari store in Barangay Binogkalan, Catmon at 2 p.m. when three armed men robbed them of P16,000 cash earnings.

Gaquing said he will direct the Provincial Intelligence Bureau to help Catmon and Liloan Police Stations in investigating the incidents. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)