3 Tsinoys hurt in Roxas Boulevard heist

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino-Chinese couple and a companion were hurt after falling prey to alleged robbers along Roxas Boulevard in Manila yesterday.

A report of Manila Police District Station 5 said the victims, identified as Ruben Chua, 45; his wife Joslyn, 41; and his mother-in-law Clarita Go, 65, each sustained a gunshot wound after unidentified motorcycle-riding men attacked their van near Pedro Gil street at around 10 a.m.

The Chuas’ 13-year-old son, Denzel, was also inside their red Toyota Lite-Ace GXL van during the incident but was unhurt.

Investigation showed that the victims were on their way home to New Manila in Quezon City after fetching Go and Denzel from the airport in Parañaque City when two motorcycle-riding men armed with .9mm caliber pistols approached the van from the side and ordered the passengers to open the doors.

But Chua refused, prompting one of the attackers to start shooting at the van’s occupants. Chua was hit in the back when he protected his son with his body, his wife sustained a bullet wound in the right foot, while Go was shot in the left foot. The teenager, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was spared from the hail of bullets, according to police.

The suspects then forced the van open, divested the injured passengers of their belongings, and fled aboard their motorcycle.

Although injured, Chua was able to drive the van in an attempt to bring himself and his wounded family members to a nearby hospital.

But upon reaching the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Quintos street, Chua fainted from loss of blood, causing the van to swerve and crash into a tree.

Manila Diamond Hotel security guard Randy Gallardo saw the mishap and immediately sought police assistance after which he and taxi driver Edgar Urata brought the victims to the Ospital ng Maynila.

Senior Police Officer 1 Reynaldo Ferrer Police of the Manila Police District said the wounded women were treated at the hospital while Chua was later transferred to the Metropolitan Hospital for surgery.

Ferrer said the robbers took an undetermined amount of cash from Chua; a Nine West bag containing $700, P8,000, two passports, a mobile phone and credit cards from his wife; and a Nine West bag containing P10,000, a mobile phone, and several credit cards from Go.

He said the case was turned over to the Parañaque City police for investigation and the conduct of follow-up operations against the robbers.