Highwaymen have slowed down – not in terms of frequency but in speed. From blocking running motorcycles, hold-uppers have now settled for a rolling store in Clarin town.

This new development in the modus of hold-uppers took place in Barangay Mataob, Clarin town. The new modus was implemented in an incident took place about 6:10 in the evening last May 24. According to information gathered by the Clarin PNP, the rolling store was moved from one place to another by an Isuzu canter truck. SPO4 Fortunato Remedio of the Clarin PNP was quoted in radio reports as saying that the rolling store was owned by Kagawad Teofredo Tongco, a councilor of Catigbian town. The store sold prime commodities to consumers in the different areas where it visited as part of its operation.

Last Thursday, six armed men held up the rolling store in what could be a signal for a shift in the operation of highway robbers. The rolling store was on its way home when the suspects flagged it down. Five of the suspects were armed with caliber .45 revolvers while the sixth suspect was armed with a caliber .38. Reports said the suspects successfully carted away more than P10,000 that were the proceeds for that day, seven realms of different brands of cigarettes, five liters of softdrinks, a Nokia 3315 cellular phone of the cashier, the driver's wristwatch among others.

The report said the victims, including the cashier, driver and two truck boys, were not harmed. After the caper, the suspects fled from the scene aboard three motorcycles. The Clarin PNP immediately rushed to the scene after being informed about it through a text message. The incident is still being investigated even as the series of highway robberies of collectors and delivery trucks have largely remained unsolved.