Thursday, December 25, 2008 Hold-uppers victimize night mass goers By Victor L. Camion
POLICE officials and residents of Dumaguete City expressed alarm over the series of hold-ups few days before the celebration of Christmas.
The latest incident happened late last week when a sales clerk of a cell shop was shot to death by a still unidentified hold-upper. The police identified the victim as Rachelle Sabanal, sales clerk of Kent Cell Shop.
Sabanal died on the spot after she was shot by motorcycle-riding hold-uppers near the parking lot of LP Hyper Mart in Bagacay, Dumaguete City. She was with her ex-boyfriend Allan Cuevas when the shooting happened.
Cuevas reported to the police that hold-uppers carted away his wallet and cell phone, as well as Sabanal's belongings. He said Sabanal tried to escape from the hold-uppers when shot to death.
The police, however, set aside the motive of hold-up and instead focus on the possibility of love triangle.
City Police Chief Leopoldo Cabanag said they are now considering Cuevas as one of the suspects after police probers recovered from Cueva's possession the victim's cell phone and wallet.
Cabanag added that based on a witness testimony, Cuevas used his cell phone to contact Sabanal, asking to meet him at the mall's parking lot. But the victim's boyfriend arrived and the commotions ensued.
Although residents are convinced with the police investigation on Sabanal's death, they are still afraid of the series of hold-ups in the city. Cabanag admitted that he is also alarmed with the hold-up incidents.
Cabanag said there are already almost ten hold-up incidents since the start of the dawn mass. He, however, assured that they are working to address the problem.
He said, the police have already identified a group from Sibulan responsible in the series of hold-up incidents with slay attempt.
He said that hold-up incidents in Dumaguete lessen last month after the series of arrests done by authorities to suspects. A new group of hold-uppers, however, took advantage of the yuletide season, victimizing churchgoers.
Cabanag clarified that hold-up incidents happened not inside the church while devoted churchgoers are attending the dawn mass, but outside.
Cabanag warned civilians to be vigilant against hold-uppers, especially at nighttime.
