Convenience store robbed in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines - A 7 Eleven convenience store has been robbed by three armed persons in Balamban town at midnight on Sunday.

The unidentified robbers held the security guard, cashier, and some customers at gunpoint before carting away the P7,000 from the store's cash register. 

Senior Police Officer Jose Villarin said that the witnesses saw the three robbers arrived on board a motorcycle at past midnight on Sunday in Barangay Sto. Niño-Sta. Cruz where the convenience store is located.

The three robbers were all wearing ball caps and armed with handguns.

One of the robbers immediately pointed his gun at the security guard, who was busy writing at the log book. The second robber pointed a gun at the cashier while the third one pointed a gun at the customers.

One of the robbers ordered the customers and the employees to stay calm and not to make any move.

Store cashier Celito Sermon was allegedly forced to open the cash register and surrendered all the money to the robbers. The robbers then fled on board two motorcycles toward Toledo City.

Villarin said that while the store has a security guard but it did not have a firearm. The guard told the police that his service firearm was supposed to be delivered to him yesterday. The store also did not have a security camera, which could have helped the police to identify the robbers.

 The police believe that the robbers are not from Balamban but have local contacts from the town.

 Villarin said they have already identified a possible group responsible in the latest robbery.

"Naay info nga dili na taga diri, duda namo naa ni spotter nga taga diri," he said.  (FREEMAN)