Minor who robbed radio anchor falls

CEBU, Philippines – A robbery suspect was injured when the bullet from a responding policeman caught his left foot just as he was trying to escape after stealing the bag of a radio anchor yesterday afternoon.

The Freeman is withholding the name of the suspect, as he is a minor. He is currently recuperating at the Cebu City Medical Center, but his cohort managed to elude arrest.

Irene Quileste, 30, anchor of Sunshine Radio, said she just came from her radio program and was walking along Sepulveda Street in Barangay Zapatera around 1:35 pm to buy a late lunch when two young men approached her and declared a hold-up.

Quileste said the two held her hand and the minor even tried to shoot her when she tried to free herself, but the gun reportedly malfunctioned. The suspects then ran away fast with her bag in tow.

Quileste then sought help from the residents nearby.

PO2 Clint Almencion, in a separate interview, said he was in his patrol car when he saw people running after someone. He immediately stopped the vehicle and subsequently took at shot at the suspects who jumped off the bridge in Echavez Street.

The minor suspect who was carrying the gun and Quileste's bag was hit on the foot and was eventually accosted. His cohort managed to escape.

Police recovered the gun, a .38 caliber revolver, and the victim's bag, which contained a cellular phone and cash amounting to P4000.

Almencion said the gun contained four live bullets of an M16 rifle. There were markings on the bullets that showed that the suspect tried to fire the gun, but it conked out precisely because the gun and the bullets did not match.

Robbery charges are being prepared against the suspect. (FREEMAN)