Two Koreans wounded in robbery

CEBU, Philippines - Two Korean nationals were injured after they were shot by four men who robbed their female companion at gunpoint in Barangay Mabolo late Tuesday evening.

Police identified the victims as Choi Soon Chul, 22, and Heo Yekang, 27.

The robbery victim was Anna Cho, 26, also a Korean national.

The three foreigners, who are students of an English education school in Mabolo, were walking on S. Cabahug corner F. Gochan streets at past 10 p.m. when four men on board two motorcycles grabbed Cho’s bag and even tried to abduct her.

Choi and Heo tried to stop the robbers.

But the robbers shot them before speeding off with Cho’s bag that contained P2,000 cash and cellphone worth P40,000; Choi’s wallet with P10,000, and a cellphone worth P30,000; and Heo’s P10,000 cash and a cellphone worth P15,000.

Choi, who was hit in the left side of his face, and Heo, who was wounded in his right arm, were rushed to the Cebu Doctors Hospital where they are admitted for treatment.

Police are conducting follow up operations in the hope of arresting the robbers whom they believe are local boys.

Shortly prior to this incident, two men who were also riding in tandem on a motorcycle shot and killed a fruit vendor in Barangay Hipodromo.

Ritchie Diabordo, 36, died of multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body.

The victim was walking along the road in San Roque when the assailants approached him and without any word, shot him repeatedly hitting his forehead, right shoulder and right side of the chest.

He was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center but did not make it alive.

Police are considering that the attack was related to illegal drugs. — (FREEMAN)