Pickpockets strike inside the Basilica

CEBU, Philippines - Even inside churches, thieves don’t spare their victims.

A woman lost her wallet to two persons whom she believed slashed a portion of her shoulder bag while she was hearing mass at the Basilica del Santo Niño mid-noon yesterday.

Lorna De Gracia Daloyoc, 42, was attending mass for the 4th day of the nine-day novena masses for the Holy Child when she noticed that her bag was slashed and her wallet was already missing.

The victim’s wallet contained P14, 000, driver’s license and assorted cards.

PO3 Juvee Tantiado, Jr. of the Theft and Robbery Section said the victim suspected a man and a woman standing behind her as the culprits.

The victim, a resident of J. Fortich St., alleged that she was also standing while hearing mass when a woman, who was with a male companion, suddenly bumped her.

“Siguro pag-bump sa babaye ngadto niya, ang lalaki sa likod mao’y nag-slash sa iyang bag ug nagkuha sa iyang wallet,” Tantiado said. The suspects might have used a blade as weapon, he said.

The victim described the woman as about over 30 years old, chubby, 5’2” tall, and sporting a blonde hair. The woman was wearing a black dress.

The man, on the other hand, was about 40 years old, about 5’8” tall, also sporting a blonde hair, and was wearing a polo.

“Mga disente lagi tan-awon. Kasagaran man sad sa mga dayo nga kawatan, di gyud mailhan kay maayo man manamit. Di ka kabantay,” the police officer said.

Meanwhile, a motorcycle-for-hire driver was injured after he was shot by his own passenger who then sped off with his motorcycle at Peace Valley, Barangay Lahug last Saturday night.

A 28-year-old male witness said he was walking on his way home at around 6:30 pm when he witnessed a commotion involving the victim, Robert Terio, 38, and the unidentified robber.

The victim, a resident of Sudlon, Lahug, was allegedly walking while carrying his helmet. Blood was reportedly oozing from his mouth. It was believed that the victim was shot on the face.

The suspect was already onboard the victim’s motorcycle and was about to speed off when the victim, who was still able to hide, threw the helmet and hit the robber’s head.

Instead of shooting the victim again, the suspect drove off and pointed a gun towards the victim and told him not to follow.

The victim then asked for help. A security guard from the nearby St. Francis School called up for police assistance and brought the already unconscious victim to the Cebu City Medical Center. — (FREEMAN)