A messenger reported to the police that he was robbed at gunpoint and lost P350,000 cash, which he was about to deposit in a bank in Cebu City yesterday morning.
Arnold Egorola was driving a bicycle on his way to the Bank of the Philippine Islands in Manalili Street when two men on a motorcycle held him up in barangay Pasil.
Egorola told police that the two robbers blocked him when he reached a bridge on El Flores Street then dragged him to the side of the road.
Egorola said the backrider was armed with a .45 pistol.
The messenger said he resisted but the two robbers, who wore helmets, overpowered him and took his bag containing the money.
Egorola said he suspects he knew the driver of the motorcycle, who avoided looking directly at him.
The P200,000 was owned by Pasil barangay councilor Julius Guio-guio while P150,000 was owned by Pasil barangay captain Jocelyn Almacin.
Guio-guio said the money was payment for a fish supplier in Mindanao.
Guio-guio said he didn’t doubt Egorola’s testimony that he was really robbed.
The councilor said Egorola has been their messenger for several years already and that there were even times that he would deposit money five times a week.
An investigation is in progress, said police. CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON