Five of the six hold-up suspects victimizing a
U.S.-pensioner couple in broad daylight Tuesday remain at large.
The couple was robbed after having their pension proceeds encashed from the Land Bank of the Philippines branch at the
Island City Mall in Dao district, this city.
The victims were identified as Felipe Hagapit, 69 and Teresita Hagapit, 67, of Poblacion, Dagohoy town.
Reports said that the couple together with their son, Espiridion, 39 were blocked by the armed suspects as they were about to board their parked Multicab at the tail end portion of the
ICM parking area, across Fixrite Hardware at about 9:45 a.m. last Tuesday.
Carted away by the suspects was the encashed amount from their US$900 pension.
During an interview with Mrs. Hagapit, she narrated that while they were few steps away from their Multicab, an unidentified armed man grabbed her and poked his gun at her chest and later on her head as the suspect demanded for the bag containing the cash. She first resisted, but was later advised by her son to just surrender the bag.
Another armed suspect poked his gun on the driver while the other suspect armed with Uzi took hold of the couple's son to prevent resistance.
The three armed suspects boarded the black XRM motorcycle while the three other suspects who acted as lookouts boarded a maroon Bajaj motorcycle.
Acting upon a quick tip from a crank call at the police station, two teams of police operatives kicked off a chase leading to the outskirts of the city entering barangay Can-gining in
Baclayon town.
As the suspects hardly shake off the chase, two of them left their companion and fled by foot.
The cops caught up with Valerio Butron, 47, an employee of the Pilar Sangguniang Bayan, left behind with the motorcycle.
The other PNP team led by Wenny Lopena on bike chased the other group onboard the XRM motorcycle. However, the cops failed to catch up with the suspects. Upon reaching near the Habitat housing project in barangay Bo-ol, only the abandoned getaway XRM motorcycle was found.
However, upon interrogation at the city PNP headquarters, cash worth P45,700 and receipt of the encashment were confiscated from Butron, who at first denied possession of the loot. Police also said the suspect is a swertres coordinator. - The Bohol Chronicle
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