$20K bail for Marpi rob suspect

A $20,000 cash bail was imposed yesterday on a 28-year-old bakery employee who allegedly robbed three tourists along Banzai Cliff Road in Marpi on Sunday afternoon.

Alvin Jacob Iguel Blas faces charges of robbery and disturbing the peace. He was taken before Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio yesterday for a bail hearing.

His lawyer is assistant public defender Cindy Nesbit. Assistant attorney general Jonathan Wilbersheild appeared for the government.

Police said that, in an interview with Blas on Sunday night, he admitted grabbing the backpack of a female tourist and running to a white Hyundai Accent.

The victim, who ran after Blas and got dragged by the Hyundai vehicle, Quichan Yang, had several abrasions on her forearms, left hand, left knuckles, wrists, elbows, and right knee.

Police investigation showed that Yang and her two sisters had parked their rented car, a pink Mustang, along the shoulder of the Banzai Cliff Road to take some photographs. While taking photos, a white car parked by a tree about 20 feet behind the Mustang. A man, later identified as Blas, approached the passenger side of the Mustang and asked Yang if they needed help taking pictures. Blas then reached into the window of the Mustang and grabbed Yang’s backpack that she had placed on her lap. Yang got out from the Mustang and held on to her backpack. As they struggled, Blas pulled the backpack, dragging Yang to the passenger side of his white getaway car. While Yang was still holding on to her backpack, the unidentified driver of the car accelerated the car. As a result, Yang was dragged, forcing her to release the backpack.

Another tourist on a car that had stopped was able to take a video of the white car as it was fleeing the scene. The footage led to the identification of the getaway vehicle as a white Hyundai Accent with license plate ACV-568. Police learned that the car belongs to BF Rental in As Lito, and was rented by a Monissalyn Iguel Blas on Friday.

On Sunday night, police saw the Hyundai Accent arrive at the parking lot of BF Rental and Monissalyn Blas got down to return the car. Monissalyn Blas then got inside a gray Mazda car, which headed north along Martinez Road.

A police officer followed the Mazda car, which parked behind the Lucky D Supermarket in Dandan. The officer approached the car, where he found Monissalyn Blas in the front passenger seat, while her boyfriend, Bo Yamada, and defendant Alvin Blas in the back seat. The officer escorted Alvin Blas to the police station for an interview. Police impounded the Hyundai Accent for processing.

The report did not mention whether Monissalyn Blas and Yamada are also suspects in the robbery. It was also not indicated whether Monissalyn Blas and Alvin Blas are siblings.