Bus robbers with grenades strike in Pasig

Seven men with hand grenades and handguns held up last Tuesday an air-conditioned bus and divested at least 60 passengers of their cash and valuables.

Police said the robbers announced the heist at the Ortigas Avenue Junction in Pasig City at 6:30 p.m. They got off the G-Liner bus (TWH 845) in two batches in Cainta, Rizal.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Rizal PNP provincial command are conducting follow-up operations to track down the robbers, whose ages range from 25 to 30 years old. Passengers said they spoke in Visayan accent.

Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Cainta police chief, said the robbers boarded the bus, which plies the Quiapo-Taytay route in San Juan.

Upon reaching the Ortigas Avenue Junction, the robbers took out handguns and two hand grenades and announced the heist.

Witnesses said the robbers lowered the bus curtains as they took cash, cell phones and jewelry from the more than 60 passengers on board.

Bus driver Lamberto Lim was ordered by one of the robbers to continue driving and not to pick up passengers.

Five of the suspects alighted in front of the Robinson’s mall at the boundary of Pasig City and Cainta.

The two others, who were armed with grenades, got off the junction in Cainta.

Passengers filed a formal complaint at a Cainta police station.

"We are still interviewing the victims and witnesses so we can identify and eventually arrest the suspects," Cruz said. – Non Alquitran