Another lending collector, driver robbed
And the robbery hold-up incidents in Iloilo province continue.
At 4 a.m. yesterday, four unidentified men robbed a delivery truck owned by rice trader Melanie Sollano of Brgy. Dumangas, Igbaras town.
Police said driver Eric Jayson Esperida was on his way to Brgy. Dumangas, where Sollano’s mill is located, when four persons on board a black L-300 van blocked his way at the crossing of Brgy. Sta. Barbara in the same town.
Two of the robbers were wearing bonnets and one of them poked a gun at Esperida and asked for his money. But the driver denied he had money.
Then one of them grabbed the driver aside and drove the vehicle going to Miag-ao town.
The two other robbers remained in the van and tailed the delivery truck until they reached Brgy. Bugtong in Miag-ao.
Igbaras Police Station chief, Senior Insp. Avelino Natal, said the truck ran out of fuel prompting the robbers to transfer some 30 sacks of palay worth P22,700 from the truck to their vehicle.
The robbers left without harming the driver, who reported the incident to the police at around 5:30 a.m. after asking help from village officials of Bagacayan, Igbaras.
At noon yesterday, another hold-up incident took place at Brgy. Camalongo, Calinog town.
The victim was another lending collector, Joan Guadalupe, 23, of Brgy. Bita-ugaha, New Lucena town, a project officer of Saint Elizabeth Development Program.
He was on board a motorcycle driven by Edmar Caspillo, 23, of Brgy. Datagan, Calinog when two robbers waylaid them.
At gunpoint, the robbers took Guadalupe’s cash of P1,900 and his mobile phone.
They also used the victims’ motorcycle as getaway vehicle in fleeing towards Brgy. Banban, Calinog.
The police who pursued the robbers recovered the motorcycle in Brgy. Banban.
Iloilo Police Provincial Office director, Senior Supt. Renato Gumban, identified the suspects as Joey Chiva and Anejo Chiva, both residents of Sitio Bolicao, Brgy. Alibunan, Calinog.
The two are members of Chiva-Fajardo Robbery Group allegedly responsible for the robbery binge in the third and fourth districts of Iloilo province.
