TACLOBAN CITY - A 36-year-old cashier of Carigara Water District (CWD) was killed in a highway robbery – holdup Wednesday morning in Brgy. Bobonon, Alangalang, Leyte.

Police Supt. Felix Diloy, Carigara chief of police, identified the victim in an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express as Maria Editha Cabello, who sustained a lone gunshot wound in the head from .45 automatic pistol.

Cabello was rushed to Bethany hospital, but was already dead when examined by the attending physicians.

Police investigation disclosed that Cabello was accompanied by her officemates i0dentifed as Eddie Bonade, Josie Granados and Jennifer Aguilar on board a CWD service vehicle enroute to Tacloban City to deposit the collection money from water concessionaires amounting P300, 000 when they ere flagged down in Brgy. Bobonon by three men on board a red TMX single motorcycle who immediately announced a holdup.

One of the suspects poked a handgun to the head of Cabello and fired as he forcibly took the money.

Diloy said that both of Alangalang and Carigara police are presently conducting a thorough investigation, but they are still facing a blank wall as to identify of the suspects.

However, they are not discounting the possibility of an “inside job” which is actually one of the angles that are being looked into by investigators.

“I wish the CWD management has requested a police escort while they transport the money” Diloy said.

Police Supt. Rogelio Montejo, Leyte PNP provincial director, has ordered the Alangalang police to conduct a follow-up and manhunt operations for the immediate arrest of the suspects.

Even before the Christmas season, the number of cases of theft, snatching and robbery-holdups went up as some as bad elements continue to take advantage of the holidays.

From the same day after the robbery-holdup incident in Alangalang town another robbery-holdup occurred in Sitio Canlaya, Brgy. Palaraw, Leyte-Leyte.

Around 9:30 p.m. of the same day, five fully armed men also held up a private vehicle enroute to Naval, Biliran. On board were Rey Delfin, Jeffrey Galleda, Dionisio Liones, Maricar Barbanida and Mario Robenlar and the driver Arsenio Barbanida who was reportedly injured when one of the suspects struck him with handgun.

The vehicle was blocked by the suspects and immediately announced a holdup.

Valuable items from the passengers were taken by the suspects aside from the P33, 000 cash money. The police authorities in Leyte are still facing a blank wall as to the identiti0es of the suspects.