Robbers hogtie 17, take P1-M in cash

Six unidentified armed men took more than P1-million in cash, some in foreign currencies, in an early morning heist yesterday in a Pasay City home.

Crab exporter Thelma Zulueta, 32, her husband, 10 employees, four housemaids, and one of the maids’ nine-year-old daughter were all hogtied.

Aside from the money, the men also took Zulueta’s gold earrings and anklet and eight cellular phones owned by her employees.

No one was harmed by the robbers but Zulueta told authorities that the men threatened to kill them.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Daniel Ocampo said the robbers reportedly barged into the compound at 11-B Ortigas St. at around 7 a.m.

The robbers found the cash and immediately fled with their loot. Authorities said the robbers carried out the heist in a matter of minutes.

Zulueta and two of her employees were shown the rogue’s gallery to help them identify the perpetrators. Members of the Scene of the Crime Office (SOCO) lifted fingerprints from the house.

Meanwhile, one of three men suspected of robbing and later sexually molesting a 15-year-old girl was arrested by police shortly after midnight yesterday in Caloocan City.

Charges of physical injuries and acts of lasciviousness have been filed against Rommel Vasquez, 27, single, jobless of Block 38, Dagat-Dagatan Avenue, Caloocan City.

PO2 Arnel de Guzman said Vasquez was arrested at around 12:15 a.m. after he was positively identified by the victim.

Vasquez, together with cohorts Regie de Guzman and Felix Bartin, both at large, allegedly held up the victim last Thursday at around 7 p.m. along Dagat-Dagatan Avenue on her way home.— Nikko Dizon and Jerry Botial