Farm worker slain in Silay hacienda robbery

BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines  – Eight armed men entered a hacienda in Silay City, Negros Occidental Saturday night, robbed its supervisor at gunpoint and killed a farm worker, who tried to help the victim.

Superintendent Rosauro Francisco, Silay police chief, said the suspects robbed Noel Espada, overseer of Hacienda San Diego Dos in Barangay E. Lopez and took P25,000 in cash, P6,000 in gift checks, a digital video camera, a cellular phone, passbook, a credit card and checkbook.

Superintendent Milko Lirazan, director of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion and Public Safety Company of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office said the suspects also fired at farm workers who tried to help Espada, killing Rodolfo Sobritodo, 46, and injured Erick Cordero, 37.

Francisco said the armed men took as hostage the daughter of Espada identified as Jinky Mary, 20, who was later released unharmed.