Armed men hogtie 8 in San Juan, flee with P3 million

MANILA, Philippines - Eight men barged into a residential building in San Juan City just after dawn yesterday and hogtied its eight occupants and fled after 10 minutes with at least P3 million in cash and jewelry and four handguns.

The robbers, armed with guns, were long gone when businesswoman Maravilla Geslani, 62, managed to loosen her bond and call for police assistance.

Geslani then untied her daughter, Nathalie Lao, 31; grandson, Diego Lao, 5; Henry Villanueva, 20, a stay-in cook; Roger Atienza; houseboy Astrid Samonte, and two others.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said Atienza opened the garage door at about 6:15 a.m. for Lao to leave in a Toyota Vios.

Mantele said one of the robbers pistol-whipped Atienza before herding him and the seven others into a room, where they were hogtied.          – Non Alquitran