Dept store workers arrested for robbery

Two employees of a department store in Cebu City allegedly robbed a taxi driver but were caught after a two-hour chase with members of the Sogod Police Station at dawn Sunday in sitio Eme, barangay Damolog, Sogod, Cebu.

Arrested were Emmanuel Samson Berame of Mainit, Naga City and Aljie Delimon Montes of barangay Carmelo, Tuburan. The two, both 21 years old, work as warehousemen at a department store in Colon Street.

The two reportedly planned to push taxi driver Frankie Tubod Tariman off a cliff in sitio Eme, but the driver was able to jump out of the moving vehicle.

Tariman narrated that Berame and Montes boarded his taxi at past 9 p.m along Jakosalem Street in Cebu City. They instructed him to proceed to Oprra in Cebu City but when they reached the place, Montes allegedly choked him and pointed two barbecue sticks and a .38 caliber revolver at him.

The two took his P1,600 cash. Police later recovered P400 from the suspects.

Berame took over the wheel from Tariman and drove the vehicle towards Sogod. Tariman said the two asked him if he knew where Eme was located. The driver then asked the robbers if they planned to throw him from the place.

When they reached a crowded area a few meters away from the police station in barangay Dumlog, Sogod, Tariman jumped from the taxi and immediately sought for help.

Police Senior Inspector Alexander Nuñez told the media that they immediately responded to the call of barangay councilman Gaspar Monisit informing them that the suspects were heading for Bogo City.

Nuñez said they chased the suspects and caught up with them in sitio Eme.

Berame told the media that they were under the influence of illegal drugs when they robbed the driver. It was their first criminal act, he added.

Tariman filed charges yesterday against the two.  /CORRESPODENT CHRISTINE EMILY L. PANTALEON