Cops eye ‘local boys’ in P400-T robbery

The robbery of a businessman in Cebu City was the handiwork of local boys, police said.

Based on the gunshot wound sustained by Edgar Hortelano Jr., the perpetrators were not professionals, said Insp. Rolando Pinili, chief of the theft and robbery section (TRS) of the Cebu City police.

Hortelano sustained a minor wound in the abdomen and was able to drive himself to the hospital.

At least P400,000 cash was taken from Hortelano, owner of Deep Blue Coffee and is also into money-changing business.

The businessman came from his coffee shop and was driving a Crosswind SUV when he was robbed past 7 p.m. Thursday.

Hortelano told police that while he was driving, a motorcycle with two men on board hit the left side of his car.

Hortelano got off the car to check the damage but the two men poked a gun at him and declared a hold-up.

Hortelano was shot when he resisted. The robbers then took his bag containing the money and drove off.

Pinili said Hortelano failed to identify the robbers since they wore full-faced helmets.

Pinili said investigators  are looking at the possibility that the robbers knew the businessman since they were familiar with his movements and knew that the victim was bringing a large amount of money.

Pinili said they will also check if the coffee shop has security cameras to find out if there were suspicious persons in the establishment.

The police official said last Thursday’s incident was new to them where the robbers purposely hit the businessman’s car to force him to disembark.