By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

The Bacolod City Police Station 1 is conducting a thorough investigation into an alleged holdup incident at the city public plaza on Sunday, June 14.

Station 1 commander Police Major Rondyl Tapang said the alleged victim, a woman, posted on social media, claiming she had been robbed by three unidentified assailants while walking through the plaza around noon.

“We did not receive any report of a holdup incident at the public plaza, which is located near the police station,” Tapang said.

On her Facebook page, alias “Janette” stated that she was on her way home when she was allegedly followed and cornered by three individuals, and forcibly took her belongings, including her wristwatch.

One of the suspects, a woman, allegedly grabbed and pulled her hair.

Fortunately, a couple passed by and attempted to help her.

However, one of the male suspects allegedly attacked the man who tried to assist her.

She further claimed that one of the suspects punched her in the stomach.

Police tried to contact the victim through Facebook Messenger, but she declined to formally report the incident.

Tapang also noted that personnel from the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) assigned to the plaza said they had not received any report of a holdup incident.

“We will determine whether the incident really happened or not. She posted it on social media, and it caused alarm among the public,” Tapang said.

If the incident did occur, Tapang emphasized that the alleged victim should cooperate with the police so that the perpetrators can be identified and arrested.

Aside from the POSO personnel, the city government also earlier deployed security guards to maintain the peace and order at the public plaza./MAP, WDJ