By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An Israeli national was wounded after three unidentified suspects attempted to rob his restaurant, located along CL Montelibano Avenue, Barangay Villamonte in Bacolod City, late Wednesday evening.

Police identified the victims as 60-year-old Shmuel Haimovitch, a former member of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and resident of the said barangay; and customers Carmen Cuadra and Marilou Mills.

Police Station 4 (PS4) commander, Police Chief Inspector Ritchie Gohee, said Haimovitch and his wife were preparing to close their establishment when he noticed the two suspects dismount from their motorcycle and enter the establishment, while a third suspect served as a look-out.

Once inside, the two suspects declared a hold-up and forcibly took Cuadra and Mill’s bags, which contained cash, identification cards, mobile phones, and ATM cards.

Haimovitch rushed to defend his customers, but one of the suspects fired their .38 caliber gun at Haimovitch, striking him on the left side of his body.

The suspects immediately boarded the motorcycle and fled toward an unknown direction.

Haimovitch was rushed to the Bacolod Doctors’ Hospital for treatment.

After learning the bullet exited his body and misses vital organs, he requested doctors sew up his wounds in order for him to return home.

The victim’s wife, Analyn, meanwhile, said her husband was well-trained in close-quarter combat and a “fighter,” even at his advanced age.

PS4 is now probing the identities of the suspects after the victim provided closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident./DGB, WDJ