Two lending firm employees ‘robbed’ in broad daylight

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two employees of a lending company claimed they were robbed by riding-in-tandem suspects afternoon of Nov. 16 in Oton, Iloilo.

But police are still investigating who could have robbed Marlon Sabion of Barangay Sta. Rita, Oton, and his companion Jose Jerry Salcepuedes of Barangay Pakiad, Oton.

Sabio, who has been on the job for seven months, works as a collector while Salcepuedes has worked as the driver of the lending company for three years. The lending company is based in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Another question that is also being entertained is whether they were indeed robbed or not.

Major Fernand Limbungan, Oton police chief, said they’re looking at all circumstances surrounding the broad daylight robbery that happened at Pakiad where Salcepuedes also resides.

Sabin told police authorities that they were on their way to their last client for the day when the robbery happened.

As they were navigating Barangay Pakiad, an agitator truck, or cement mixer truck, was pouring concrete on a road.

They decided to turn back. But before they could move any further, another motorcycle blocked their path.

The other motorcycle’s back rider alighted and grabbed his sling bag containing their collection money amounting to around P10,000.

The suspect even told him, “kwarta lang ang amon” while revealing a handgun tucked in his waist.

The suspect also grabbed Salcepuedes’ bag, which contained P500 cash, a driver’s license, the vehicle’s official receipt and certificate of registration, a mobile phone and identification cards. The motorcycle key was also taken from the victims.

The victims claimed that fear overwhelmed them, that’s why they failed to immediately ask for help.

Limbungan said that he immediately dispatched a team of cops after receiving the reports.

“They could not also identify the suspects because they were allegedly wearing a crash helmet and bonnet,” he said.

The victims also failed to get the suspects’ motorcycle plate number or any other useful description.

Limbungan said there are still no witnesses who might corroborate the victims’ testimonies.