Highway robbery got away P228-T

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Beware picking up hitchhiker.

Police are on the hunt for three robbers involved in highway robbery in Balete, Aklan on August 29. The suspects who were armed took away P228,000 from the victims in broad daylight while on their way to Iloilo City. 

Almer Emblarinag, 34, of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique was driving their delivery van with his companion Jonard Pacheco, 41, of Iloilo City when the incident happened at around 3:40 p.m.

Balete chief of police Inspector Lizel Goboy said a suspect hitched a ride from Bulwang, Numancia and upon reaching Sitio Bangbang in Barangay Feliciano, the suspect allegedly asked the driver to stop the delivery van.

The suspect reportedly declared robbery and then he repeatedly hit the driver and his companion with a mallet.

“Suki nila sa ukay ukay ang unang suspek na sumakay sa Bulwang, Numancia. Kilala nila ang suspek. Ayon sa suspek, nasiraan ang kanilang tricycle at naghihintay ang kasama niya dito sa Balete,” Goboy added.  

Another suspect who was waiting in their get-away tricycle parked along the national highway also drew a .38-caliber to Emblarinag. The suspects then took the clutch bag containing P228,000. 

Police said the money was collected by the victims from their 'ukay-ukay' delivery in Camanci Norte in Numancia, Aklan before the robbery. 

After the robbery, the three men fled on board a tricycle towards the town of Banga, Aklan.  The victims also drove their delivery van in opposite direction until they reached Barangay Poblacion in Balete, Aklan, about 4 kilometers from the crime scene.

Pacheco and Emblarinag were immediately brought to Balete Rural Health Unit and later transferred in a private hospital in Kalibo, Aklan for further treatment of their head and face injuries.

Goboy said the victims were in stable condition in Panay Health Care Multi-purpose Cooperative.

Police said they have the lead on the two suspects, who were positively identified in Numancia police files. The third suspect, however, remains unidentified. 

No arrests were reported and investigation is ongoing.