A medical doctor lost around P30,000 to a holdupper at a mall parking area in Mandurriao District, Iloilo City.
The victim was identified as Dr. Lulu Salinas, the wife of Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Head, Retired Col. Cornelio Salinas.
According to Cornelio, his wife was from the grocery section of a mall evening on September 3, 2025. While in the vehicle, a man suddenly opened the car door and poked a gun at her.
“Tinusok raw ng baril ang kanyang tagiliran at sinabihan siya na ‘pera lang ang sakin.’ At 'yon na, sumigaw na siya at umiyak na huwag daw siyang saktan. Kinuha niya ang kanyang wallet at ibinigay sa holdaper at pinistol whip pa siya,” Cornelio said.
His wife sustained a contusion on the left side of the forehead because of the incident, he added.
The incident, he said, took place past 7 p.m.
According to Lt. Greg Matutino, deputy chief of Iloilo City Police Station 10, the perpetrator was described to be medium built, about five-foot tall, and was in gray shirt.
The doctor was able to provide details on a few facial features of the perpetrator, as he has not covered reportedly his face.
Police said that with the given details, they already have a person of interest.
"May tinututukan na tayong person of interest, may mga footages rin tayo na nakuha at iyan ang ongoing na pina-follow up natin,” Matutino said.
However, the police has not provided details yet on the backtracking done to the CCTV footage at the mall’s parking lot.
Matutino confirmed that a tricycle driver traced the residence of the doctor through the identification (ID) cards and handed over her wallet personally.
According to the tricycle driver, he found the wallet in the vicinity of Barangay Airport, Mandurriao.
ID cards and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards are intact, but not the cash.
Cornelio expressed dismay over alleged negligence of mall security guards.
"Wala silang contingency plan how to react kung may crime in progress at kung ano pa ang mangyayari within the parking area, wala silang ganyan. According to the words of Dr. Salinas, chill-chill lang," Cornelio added.
Based on the observation of Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), the parking area lacks proper lighting.
ICPO also expressed dismay over the mall’s apparent lack of security protocols.
"Sana, nakaresponde lang agad, kasi andiyan lang sa area, they could’ve engaged ang suspetsado. Siguro, we suggest na we have protocols sa mga ganito,” Kim Legada, ICPO director, pointed out.
In a statement issued by SM City Iloilo, the mall management assured it will coordinate with the police on the incident, citing that they value the security and safety of customers.
(with reports from GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Desk)
