By: Jennifer P. Rendon
TWO suspects were arrested after they robbed a nurse at knifepoint early morning of Oct. 1, 2019 at Lapuz, Iloilo City.
Police identified the suspects as Jboy Barroca 21, and Philip John Depeño, 20, both of Barangay San Juan, Molo district.
Barroca and Depeño are two of the four suspects who robbed Leonil Nunag at around 4 a.m. Tuesday at Barangay Rizal.
Nunag claimed that he was on his way home after his duty at a hospital in Gen. Luna St., City Proper when the suspects waylaid and poked a knife at him.
The victim readily gave up his bag, mobile phone, wristwatch, and eye glasses.
The suspects then fled going to the City Proper area while the victim looked for help.
Help came after two men on board a motorcycle. Another motorcycle-rider passed by the area and helped chase the suspects.
Barroca and Depeño were later arrested. A knife was seized from their possession.
But their two alleged companions, a certain Butchok Mascubar of Zone 3, Barangay San Juan, Molo and Keneth Dave Marguilles of Zone 2, Barangay San Juan, Molo, eluded arrest.
The victim’s belongings were also recovered and returned to him.
After their arrest, Barroca denied being with the group who held up Nunag.
He claimed that he and Depeño just heard the two suspects shouting. Out of fear, they also ran away.
Barroca claimed that the knife was also handed to him by the “real” suspects who robbed the nurse.
Still, the duo’s alibi was not enough to spare them from incarceration.