By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A suspected robber was arrested by police, while his accomplice managed to escape, after victimizing a local resident late Monday evening at Hacienda Valing in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the victim as 19-year-old Reniel John Nietes, a resident of the said area.

Murcia municipal police said Nietes was standing beside the road when the suspects, one of whom was identified as 23-year-old Carlo Dela Cruz of Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City, allegedly held the victim at knife point and declared a hold-up.

The suspects forcibly took the victim’s mobile phone, worth P3,800; however, Nietes fought back and shouted for help from nearby residents.

Locals immediately jumped in to assist and successfully wrestled the suspects’ motorcycle.

The residents managed to get a hold of Dela Cruz and contacted police, while his accomplice managed to escape into a nearby sugarcane plantation.

Police recovered the suspects’ motorcycle, along with the bladed weapon used in the attempted hold-up.

Dela Cruz faces robbery charges and is detained at the Murcia Municipal Police Station./DGB, WDJ