BBQ stick used to stage robbery

CEBU, Philippines - A 23-year-old woman lost her personal belongings and cash after a suspect who was later identified as their neighbor succeeded in robbing her with the use of a barbeque stick Sunday evening.

Johanna Marie Ocañada, 23, and a resident of Barangay Guimbal, Compostela town but is renting a room in Barangay Cambaro, Mandaue City, told police that suspect Randy Quiño alias "Tirato" was able to gain entry to her room while she was away.

Police Officer 2 John Calamba of the Opao Police Station said while the victim was supposed to close the door of her room, she was surprised to see the suspect inside her room who immediately grabbed her then covered her mouth so she could not shout while pointing a barbeque stick on her neck.

Thinking that the barbeque stick could not kill her, the victim tried to struggle so she could free herself from the suspect by kicking him once on his private part which also caused the suspect to box her on the face, bite her left hand and injured her left leg with the used of the barbeque stick.

But still the victim continued to struggle by continuing to kick the suspect causing them to land on the victim's bed wherein the victim was able to take off the shirt the suspect used to cover his face.

She was then able to identify the suspect as her neighbor prompting her to also scratch the suspect's face several times. It was at this point when the suspect was able to flee bringing along with him her Samsung cellular phone worth P5,000 and P5,000 cash which she placed on the table. Police said the incident did not only traumatize the victim but also her two-year-old daughter who witnessed the incident.

Police conducted a hot pursuit operation in the suspect's residence but were told by the mother that her son left their place yesterday dawn. The victim is bent to pursue the robbery case against the suspect even if he is at large, police said.