20 passengers lose cash, valuables in jeepney heist

CEBU, Philippines - At least 20 passengers of a Public Utility Jeepney lost their cash and personal belongings when two armed robbers robbed them in Barangay Cogon-Ramos yesterday dawn.

 Raul Saul, 40, who lost his P8,000 worth wristwatch, would have wanted to fight the robbers had the other male passengers showed interest to help him.

Saul, a resident of Maracas in Barangay Lahug, was on his way to Carbon Market to buy goods for his grocery store and restaurant on board a PUJ with route number 04C. When the two unidentified robbers boarded near Mango Square, one sat behind the driver while the other near the tailgate.

Several other passengers, mostly disco-goers, boarded after them. Few minutes later, upon reaching R. Landon Street, the two pulled out an unknown caliber handgun and declared a hold-up.

“Niana ‘ambi inyong kwarta, pitaka, ug relo’. Hasta ang driver gitiunan giingnan na ‘ayaw dagan ha’,” Saul recalled.

Because of fear, the passengers handed over their money and other personal things to the robbers. Saul said some of the victims, who were also bound for Carbon, brought with them big amount of money.

“Gipanguhaan na nila tanan, ako na lang gyud ang wala pa. Unya kay nakit-an man ko nya gipangayuan man ko sa akong relo, akong giingnan kadaghan na anang inyong nakuha, sakto na ‘na,” he said.

But one of the robbers pointed the gun at his chest prompted him to give his diver’s watch. Saul was still lucky that his P4,000 and cellular phone were spared as the robbers were already in a hurry to leave.

Saul said he would have wanted to fight back to create commotion but the other male passengers whom he tried to ask help from were did not show interest to help him.

“Kaduha nako gisinyasan, wala mukagat mga dagko man unta ug lawas. Nangduko ra gyud,” he said.

Feeling upset of what had happened Saul reported the incident at the Theft and Robbery Section at 2:30 p.m. yesterday.

He described one of the robbers as 5’5” tall, medium-built, fair-skinned, and was wearing a gray bull cap with belt pouch. The other one was 5’4” tall and was wearing a light yellow and dirty white shirt and maong short pants. — (FREEMAN)