Man robs courier outlet of P28T cash

An armed man single-handedly robbed a courier business outlet inside a commercial complex along Pelaez Street yesterday afternoon and made off with P28,000.

Leah Toroteo, customer service representative of the establishment, told responding policemen that the man went inside at about 5pm and tied something at the door before approaching her counter.

She greeted him saying "good afternoon, sir", but the man replied instead, "This is a hold-up," while pointing his gun to her.

Toreteo got stunned and was unable to do anything as the man quickly scooped up the money from the counter and ordered her to lie prone on the floor as he fled.

Chief Inspector Ambrosio Ibones, head of the City Police theft and robbery section, said Toreteo described the man as slightly tall, wearing a sweatshirt, a ball cap and sunglasses, and with his face covered only partially with a handkerchief to show he had pimples. The gun was initially covered with cloth, she said.

Ibones believed the man escaped with a vehicle or by hanging unto a jeepney, moving from one vehicle to another as he made good his escape. But the police official believed the man could be known in the area due to his effort to cover all his body from possible identification.

Initial investigation showed that Toroteo had two other companions at the time but shortly before the suspect entered, one of them was out to have a computer fixed while the other went out to a nearby comfort room inside the complex.

One of the security guards of the complex, Eliseo Villamor, said there are 15 of them on duty at the time roving the complex that houses a grocery establishment, movie houses and other business outlets.

He however said the robbery took place coinciding with the time when only two guards were roving. He said he was eating then and the robber could have taken advantage of the break-time of the guards. - Norvie S. Misa