Robbers take P2.7 million

Eight heavily-armed men robbed three employees yesterday of P2.75 million in payroll money in a five-minute job in Pasig City.

Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig City police chief, immediately dispatched three teams of crack operatives to track down the suspects who are believed to be behind the rash of armed robberies in Metro Manila.

Deogracias Yala, 38, driver of New York Bay Phils., said they were on their way back to their office in the Antel Global Building on Ortigas Avenue when the suspects, on board a white Mitsubishi van (plate number UPV 380), blocked their path at the corner of Exchange Road and Jade street at about 11 a.m.

The suspects surrounded their vehicle and one of them smashed the vehicles’ right front window with a butt of an Armalite.

They then ordered Soriano Ronilito, 26, security guard, and Gaspar Saligumba, 25, messenger, to get off the beige Starex van (WRY 855) and grabbed the bag containing the money they had just withdrawn from a local bank. After taking the bag, the suspects scampered back into their vehicle and sped-off.

Sosito had the three employees of the door-to-door delivery company under intense questioning to determine whether the robbery was an "inside" job.

The police chief also ordered a police artist to prepare cartographic sketches of the suspects and compare them with pictures in their rogues’ gallery of criminals to identify them.

Meanwhile in Marikina City, an enraged 21-year-old woman ran after a holdup man who robbed her of P18,500 in cash and jewelry after realizing that he was only armed with a toy gun.

The victim, Sheryll Bagayas shouted for help catching the attention of SPO2 Ranie Salih, who joined the chase and arrested the suspect, Rodolfo Bautista, 43, a resident of 117 Balete St., Rodriguez, Rizal.

Bautista yielded Bagayas’ bag with its contents intact. The toy gun was also recovered in his possession.

Bagayas of 69 Miami St., Cubao, Quezon City was on board an FX taxi and on her way to the Sta. Lucia Mall when Bautista took the vacant seat beside her at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Bautista, Bagayas said, took out a toy gun that looked like a caliber .38 revolver, pointed it and whispered to her that it was a holdup. He then ordered her to hand over her shoulder bag containing her cellular phone, wristwatch and several pieces of jewelry, all worth P18,500.

The suspect then alighted from the vehicle and ran towards the Marikina City proper. However, Bagayas realized Bautista was only holding a toy gun as he stepped down the FX taxi.

As she gave chase, Bagayas caught the attention of Salih, assigned at the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) National Capital Region (NCR), who gave chase until Bautista was collared.

Bautista owned up to the crime. He is now detained at the Marikina City jail pending the filing of robbery charges against him in at city prosecutor’s office.