KALIBO, Aklan – Police were still hunting three suspects involved in a highway robbery in Balete, Aklan last Wednesday.
The suspects took away P228,000 cash from two ukay-ukay merchants who were on board a van on their way to Iloilo City around 3:40 p.m., police said.
The victims were identified as the 34-year-old driver Almer Emblarinag of San Jose, Antique and 41-year-old Jonard Pacheco of Iloilo City.
Balete chief of police Inspector Lizel Goboy said one of the suspects asked to hitch a ride from Emblarinag and Pacheco in Barangay Bulwang, Numancia, Aklan.
“Suki nila sa ukay–ukay ang unang suspek na sumakay sa Numancia. Kilala nila ang suspek. Ayon sa suspek, nasiraan ang kanilang tricycle at naghihintay ang kasama niya dito sa Balete,” Goboy said.
The suspect then asked them to drop him in Sitio Bangbang, Barangay Feliciano in Balete.
When the van stopped, the suspect declared holdup and hit Emblarinag and Pacheco with a mallet, police said.
Another suspect – who was waiting with their get-away tricycle parked along that national highway alongside another accomplice – also pointed a .38-caliber gun at Emblarinag.
The robbers then carted away the clutch bag containing the money and fled.
Emblarinag and Pacheco, meanwhile, drove until they reached Barangay Poblacion in Balete where they asked help. They sustained head and face injuries.
They were then brought to the Balete Rural Health Unit and later transferred to a private hospital in Kalibo for further treatment.
The Balete police have a lead on the two robbers. The other one remains unidentified.
No arrests were reported as of this writing. Police investigation was ongoing. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
