A woman lost gadgets and cash as she fell prey to an armed robber believed to have been the perpetrator of several other robberies carried out across the province during the previous months.

Maritess Hilardo, 23, of Barangay San Roque, Maribojoc, reported to police that she was robbed by an armed man who was riding a gray sedan, the same description given by at least seven other robbery victims from the towns of Baclayon, Sierra Bullones, Catigbian and Sagbayan.

According to Police Staff Sgt. Eugene Morgia of the Maribojoc Police Station, Hilardo who was supposed to go to Tagbilaran City was waiting for a public utility vehicle along a national road in Barangay San Roque when the suspect, on board the sedan, stopped in front her and declared a holdup at noon on Sunday.

“Ambi ng imog bag kay og di na nimoi ihatag pusilon tika,” Hilardo said, quoting the suspect.

Out of fear, Hilardo handed over her belongings which were kept inside a backpack to the suspect who held her at gunpoint.

The bag contained a laptop, cellphone, P5,000 cash and identification cards.

Hilardo reported the incident to the police who in turn conducted a hot pursuit operation but to no avail as the suspect remained at large.

Police meanwhile were looking for possible areas where closed-circuit television cameras may have taken a footage of the suspect or his vehicle.

Since March, at least seven individuals, including two senior citizens, in four towns were allegedly robbed by a male suspect who was riding a gray sedan.

Lourdes Samoya, 70, and  Rose Briones, 42, were robbed in Catigbian at past 12 p.m. and nearby town Sagbayan at past 1 p.m., respectively, on April 8.

Catigbian police chief Captain Narciso Laruga had earlier noted that the robberies in the adjacent towns may have been perpetrated by the same suspect based on the report of Samoya.

In March, Jeprey Anaya, Gea Mae Gromontil and Lovely Tangcawan were robbed while they were standing together at a waiting shed in Catigbian. They were held at gunpoint by a mask-clad suspect who alighted from a gray sedan.

In the same month, two individuals including a 62-year-old woman in Baclayon and a principal in Sierra Bullones reported to police that they were robbed near the road by a suspect who was also riding a gray car. (A. Doydora)