Riding-in-tandem persons rob woman

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police are still looking for evidence and witnesses who can identify the two motorcycle-riding men who robbed a woman rider early evening of Feb. 5 in Oton, Iloilo.

The incident happened while Diane, 31, was on her way home to Barangay Buyu-an, Tigbauan, Iloilo.

She was navigating through Barangay Trapiche, Oton around 6:45 p.m. on Monday when the two suspects tailed her.

Shortly later, the riders tried to overtake her. They then blocked her way prompting her to stop.

Captain Larry John Vidal, Oton police chief, said Diane narrated that the suspects then alighted from their motorcycle.

The driver, armed with a blunt object, allegedly approached and told her, “Ma’am, kwarta lang amon. Indi na magbatò.” (Ma’am, we only want money. Don’t fight back.)

Diane showed investigators the scratches she suffered when the suspect struck both of her arms and abdomen with the blunt object.

During the attack, her backpack fell causing her personal belongings, including her wallet, to scatter to the ground.

The suspects immediately took her wallet containing P23,000 cash.

The robbers immediately boarded their motorcycle and sped towards Iloilo City.

Diane told investigators that the money was intended to pay their dues and bills.

The woman, who works as a sales lady at an establishment in Mandurriao district, Iloilo City, is married to a seafarer.

Diane did not seek help from authorities or barangay officials first. Instead, she called up her husband to inform him about what happened.

Her husband called his policeman-friend assigned to the Tigbauan Municipal Police Station.

The Tigbauan cop was the one who called up the Oton PNP for assistance.

Vidal said Diane wasn’t able to identify her attackers since both were wearing full-face helmets.

She also did not get the motorcycle’s plate number but claimed that it was a Honda XRM.

“We’re now reviewing the CCTV camera footage taken in the areas where the suspects could have possibly passed by,” Vidal said.

Diane claimed there could be witnesses but police have yet to talk to them.