Robbers take P60T, leave victims locked up in van

CEBU, Philippines - Robbers carted away P60,000 cash from a cigarette supply firm salesman and driver and left them locked up inside a delivery van yesterday morning in A.C. Cortes Street, Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City.

Police rescued sales representative Alvin Etable and delivery truck driver Felix Piguez after the suspects bolted them inside the company’s delivery van.

Their other companion, helper Benjie Gonzaga, was the one who sought police assistance.

Investigation showed the three workers were delivering cartons of cigarette to a nearby store when three men onboard a motorcycle stopped near their vehicle parked at the roadside.

At that time, Etable and Piguez were doing inventory inside the van while Gonzaga went out to the nearby store to deliver some cigarettes.

Two of the three suspects then appeared behind Etable and Piguez, pointed an undetermined caliber of firearm on them and declared the holdup.

The robbers then took from Etable sales proceeds amounting to P60,000, as well as Piguez’ bag containing clothes, before locking them up inside the van.

As the two suspects saw Gonzaga walking towards the van, they calmly approached him, tipped both their firearms on his side and told him they were under holdup.

After Gonzaga gave to the suspects his bag containing used clothes, the suspects then hurriedly left the place onboard their motorcycle.

At this point, Gonzaga shouted for help and people rushed to the scene, but because no one could open the locked van and to report the incident as well, the police were called.

A team led by Senior Police Officer 1 Michael Limalima of Subangdaku Police Station successfully opened the van and rescued the victims inside.

(Editor’s Note: The police did not indicate the name of the cigarette supplying firm involved in the incident.) — Flor P. Perolina (FREEMAN)