ITOGON, Benguet – Four still unidentified armed men allegedly carted away over five hundred thousand pesos in cash, gold dust and personal belongings of the owner and four helpers of a gold buying station at Camp 1, Acupan, Virac, here Monday dawn.
Police authorities identified the victims of the robbery holdup incident as Florence Dopyao, 36, married, owner of the Gold Buying Station; and her helpers Nollie Timanang Hoggang, 20, single, Jossana Linglingon Ambojnon, 23, Marilou Nadiahan Remiendo, 36, and Mary Jane Hoggang, 35, single, all are natives of Hingyon, Ifugao and residents of Riverside, Balatoc, Virac, Itogon, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed that while Nollie was sleeping inside the said station, two still armed men entered his room, pointed a gun at him and ordered him to keep quiet or else he will be harmed, while the other two armed men served as lookout outside the establishment.
The suspects then tied his hands and feet and then covered his mouth with packing tape then left him inside the room.
At this juncture, their two male companions then joined their colleagues and proceeded to the cashier’s room where the three ladies were sleeping.
One of the suspects knocked at the door and pretended to be Nollie that prompted Mary Jane to open it. At this juncture, the suspects then pointed a gun to her and declared a holdup.
The suspects then demanded the key to the drawer but the ladies refused to give the same which forced the suspects to tie their hands and cover their mouths with packing tape while the others forcibly opened the drawer and took with them P159,560 in cash, gold dust amounting to P231,610, assorted cash, jewelries, mobile phones and personal belongings of the stay-in workers among others.
The suspects then fled from the crime scene and are now the subject of a manhunt by responding police operatives from the Itogon Municipal Police Station.
By Dexter A. See