TAMBULIG, Zamboanga del Sur — Two unidentified armed suspects staged a brazen midday robbery, carting away an estimated ₱80,000 worth of valuables from a rice trader in Barangay Sagrada Familia on April 30, authorities reported.
The incident occurred at around 12:33 p.m. inside a warehouse in Purok 2, where the 34-year-old female victim was tending to her rice business when approached by two მამაკales posing as customers. According to the Tambulig Municipal Police Station, the suspects initially inquired about rice prices before abruptly declaring a hold-up.
One of the assailants was reportedly armed with a caliber .45 pistol and threatened the victim, demanding money. The situation escalated when family members of the victim intervened, triggering a commotion that prompted the gunman to fire a shot before fleeing.
Despite the alarming turn of events, no one was injured in the incident.
Police said the suspects escaped on board a black Yamaha Mio 125 motorcycle without a license plate, heading toward the direction of Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur. The robbers made off with a bracelet valued at ₱60,000 and a mobile phone worth ₱20,000.
Responding officers recovered several pieces of evidence at the crime scene, including two helmets believed to have been used by the suspects, one spent shell casing, three live rounds of ammunition, and an empty magazine for a caliber .45 firearm.
Authorities have launched a follow-up investigation and intensified hot pursuit operations to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
The Tambulig police are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward, as efforts continue to track down the suspects behind the daylight heist.