Robbers hold up van along Bontoc-Kalinga Road; take P100K

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga – Highway robbers blocked a portion of Bontoc-Kalinga Road here forcing a van to stop, then at gunpoint, took P100,000 and a cell phone from the victims and fled.     

A police report said the incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Monday at SO Kitang, Mallango of this remote town wherein victims were identified as Pablo Podes, 42, fish dealer, of Samoki, Bontoc, Mt. Province’ Jefty Castaneda, 36, driver, of Burgos, Alicia, Isabela; Liis Apagna, 22, helper, of Sagada, Mountain Province and Wilbert Dida, 15, helper, of Tadian, Mt. Province.

Investigation disclosed suspects blocked the van using logs.  When the van stopped, the suspects pointed a gun at the victims and took Podes’s backpack and shoulder bag containing check and cash amounting to P100,000 and a Nokia cellphone.

They took also the backpack of Dida containing his belongings.

The suspects fled after the incident.

Police are still trying to identify the highway robbers.