Four nursing students of West Negros College were held up by two unidentified persons on their way to school at Paniega-Gonzaga streets in Brgy. 28, Bacolod City, at about 5:45 a.m. yesterday.

On Thursday, a cashier and a driver of the Sargaso Construction and Development Corporation were also held up by three unidentified persons onboard a motorcycle who took about P130,200 in cash from them at Burgos Street, Brgy. 18, Bacolod City.

Edsa Causing Gabayron of Sara, Iloilo, Ellaine Joy Pedrena and her sister Erlene Joy, 22, both of San Jose, Antique, and Joann Marie Sodia, 19, of San Joaquin, Iloilo City were on separate pedicabs when two unidentified persons reportedly blocked their way and declared a hold-up, police reports said.

The students told the police the hold-uppers poked bladed weapons at them and grabbed their bags containing four blood pressure apparatus, learning handbooks and stethoscopes, rotation plan books, a Nokia 3315 cellphone, a digital camera, a Land Bank of the Philippines ATM card and P1,400 in cash, police reports said.

Senior Insp. Jonathan Lorilla, Police Precinct 6 commander, said the four temporarily reside at Purok Sta. Ana, Brgy. 30, and were set to attend on-the-job training at the Jose Locsin Memorial Hospital in Silay City.

The students described one of the hold-uppers to be about 5 feet 4 inches tall, between 21 to 25 years old, with a semi-bald haircut, a police report said.

The other culprit has curly hair, is between 25 to 30 years old and is about 5 feet and 5 inches tall, the students also said.

Both suspects have fair complexion and are medium built, the police report also said.

Meanwhile, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, Bacolod City police director, yesterday said he has ordered his men to intensify random checkpoints on people on board motorcycles and tricycles in Bacolod City.

Policemen and traffic enforcers have also been ordered to flag down and apprehend tricycles with more than two passengers, he said.

Mercee yesterday also confirmed that his office has received information about an alleged kidnap-for-ransom group eyeing two known personalities as their would-be targets in Bacolod City.

The report is still unconfirmed so there is no cause for panic, intelligence operatives have been ordered to verify the matter so it can be addressed early, he said.*DMG

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