Van driver killed, two co-workers injured in P591K armed heist

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

They were not your usual robbers. They offered no chance for their targets to resist. They just shoot them before taking the loot.

This was how the Lambunao Municipal Police Station described the assailants who staged a broad daylight robbery on Sept 15, 2022 on the national highway of Barangay Pasig, a village 7 kilometers away from the town proper.

The incident led to the death of Jerry Faldas, the driver of the delivery van of Iloilo-based cigarette distribution company Japan Tobacco Inc.

Faldas, a resident of Barangay Port San Pedro, City Proper, Iloilo City, was believed to have instantly died from gunshot wounds on his head and chest.

His two co-workers were also wounded after the gunmen shot at them while they were fleeing.

Elbert Mardoquio, 37, of Barangay Inaladan, Cabatuan Iloilo, was hit on the back and is now confined to Western Visayas Medical Center.

On the other hand, Jeriel Nalangan, 35, of Barangay Libot, Calinog, Iloilo, suffered gunshot injuries on his arm and shoulder and a graze wound on his head. He was taken to West Visayas State University Medical Center for treatment.

The three victims came from Barangay Jayubo, Lambunao and were driving on an uphill portion of Pasig around 3:45 p.m. Thursday when three gunmen waylaid them.

Major Jogen Suegay, Lambunao police chief, said the assailants hid in a grove and ran to the roadside as the van was approaching.

“The driver had to slow down in that area because aside from being uphill, a portion of the road needs to be fixed,” he said.

The nearest houses were several hundreds of kilometers away from the crime scene.

The survivors claimed that the suspects just shot at them, with the initial volleys hitting Faldas.

As the vehicle stopped, Mardoquio and Nalangan immediately alighted.

They ran away but the suspects shot them. Luckily, the bullets did not fatally hit them.

Suegay said the suspects did not pursue the survivors after they managed to seek help from passing motorists.

The robbers took their collection amounting to around P591,000 and their bags containing personal belongings. They then fled on foot going in the direction of Barangay Banban, Lambunao.

Given the circumstances, Suegay believed that the suspects could be Lambunao residents.

“They were on foot and knew the terrain well,” he said.

Suegay said it was easy for the victims’ movement to be monitored because they constantly take that route at certain times.

As this developed, police investigators said they already have persons of interest but didn’t elaborate further.