Woman dead in robbery

CEBU, Philippines - An accountant of a construction firm was shot dead by two unidentified men in the South Road Properties, yesterday around 2:40 p.m., just after she withdrew money for the payroll of the company.

Senior Police Officer 4 Jelson Solivio of Mambaling police said that Jenely Aquino, a native of Bulacan, and an accountant of VISCON Construction, just left the service vehicle of the company and was heading to the construction site when two men on a motorcycle drove up and tried to snatch the backpack containing the money.

The victim held on to the backpack and struggled with the suspects, causing her to lose her balance and some of the bundled bills to fall from the bag. One of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot the victim three times as she was down on the ground. One shot hit her in the head, killing her instantly.

The perpetrators, who were earlier seen waiting in the area, were only able to get P485,265 said Mambaling police chief Senior Inspector Eduard Sanchez.

He added that they are now looking at the possibility that the robbery was an inside job.

“Nagduda g’yud mi ani nga inside job kay ngano’ng nauna pa ang mga suspek didto,” he said.

Sanchez also said that there were no CCTV cameras in the area that could help them in their investigation, but they have the plate number of the motorcycle as recalled by Delboy Arcenio, the company driver and companion of the victim at the time.

Arcenio and the security guard in the construction site where the incident happened are also under investigation.

Arcenio told the police that the suspects also pointed a gun at him after they shot the victim and that he hit another car in his haste to back the service vehicle away from them.

Cebu City Police Office Information Officer, Chief Inspector Ramoncelio Sawan said that the City Director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria already ordered a hot pursuit operation against the suspects.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)