A 31-year-old woman lost P23,000 to robbers in Barangay Trapiché, Oton town in the Province of Iloilo.

Alias "Diane" sought assistance at the Oton Municipal Police Station in Iloilo after she was held up reportedly by two men in Barangay Trapiche.

She said she was onboard her motorcycle on her way home to Tigbauan town from Iloilo City when she was waylaid by motorcycle-riding men who had overtaken her vehicle.

The men moved to snatch her bag away, but she grappled for it.

It was learned that prior to the incident, “Diane” came to withdraw money from an Automated Teller Machine in Iloilo City. The robbers reportedly took away her bag with the money inside worth over P20,000.

"Diane" sustained bruises on her arms during the struggle. She said the men left hurriedly with the bag.

The news team went to the victim’s house to confirm the report but nobody faced the crew.

Oton Police said it is likely that the perpetrators tailed the victim from the moment she was noticed to have withdrawn a considerable amount.

“Bumaba ang dalawang suspek, lumapit sa victim at sinabing 'pera lang sa amin huwag ka nang manlaban.' Hinawakan ng isang suspek ang victim at hinawakan ng isa pa ang kanyang bag,” Captain Larry John Vidal, chief of Oton Municipal Police Station, said.

He added that the public should be more responsible for their own safety to thwart any attempt from lawless elements.

“See to it na kung mag-withdraw daytime at hindi nighttime. At kung nighttime, see to it na secured rin ang self mo during travel,” Vidal emphasized.