METROPOLICE: Robbers strike store

CEBU, Philippines - A general merchandising store located along M. L. Quezon Street in Barangay Cabancalan, Mandaue City lost more than P15,000 cash after it was robbed by four suspects onboard two separate motorcycles last Thursday evening.

This the third robbery incident in the city in a span of two weeks in which the suspects are using motorcycles as their getaway.

Senior Police Officer 2 Marcos Noval of the Theft and Robbery Section of Mandaue City Police Office said the suspects were able to strike at Remee’s General Merchandising owned by Hydie Remedio-Cosido, just a few meters away from the area’s satellite market.

Noval said it was found out during investigation that the first two suspects who were onboard a black Honda XRM motorcycle disembarked from their vehicle and sat near a store beside the Remee’s Merchandising, while the other two suspects who were onboard a red Honda XRM motorcycle also disembarked from their vehicle and stood a few meters away from the target establishment.

Witnesses said it was the two suspects in a nearby store who were the ones who gave the signal to the other two suspects after seeing that the last customer left the merchandising store.

The two immediately aimed both their .38 caliber firearms at Pedro Ngisi, the store cashier, and declared the holdup. Ngisi was left with no choice but to hand their daily earnings to the suspects.

One of the store personnel who saw one of the suspects take a gun out from his waist was supposed to run away but was grabbed by one of the suspects and told to go back inside the store while a gun was aimed on her.

The suspects immediately left the place onboard their separate vehicles, police said.

Noval said they are in the process of identifying the suspects after the merchandising store owner has allowed them to view footages from their CCTV camera.

During review, police said the footages showed that the suspects were the same men who robbed the Petron gas station on Cebu North Road in Barangay Jagobiao last October 11 and the Petron gasoline station on Ouano Avenue in Barangay Subangdaku based on the descriptions given by the crews of the two establishments.

A follow-up operation is now being conducted for the possible arrest of the suspects. — Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)