Passengers robbed of P.1 million in Pasay bus heist

MANILA, Philippines - Four armed men robbed 16 bus passengers of P100,000 in cash and valuables while the vehicle was cruising along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City Monday night.

Senior Superintendent Petrasanta said Cherry Depusoy, 35, told them she and 15 other passengers were in an AC Trans bus (TXK-213) that came from Baclaran, Parañaque. They were bound for Makati City when the robbers, who had pretended to be passengers, declared a heist as the bus was passing Roxas Boulevard at around 9 p.m.

Three of the suspects were armed with handguns while their fourth companion threatened the victims with a bladed weapon.

After taking the passengers’ their cash and valuables, the suspects alighted from the bus. Senior Police Officer 4 Mario Deveza of the Makati City Police Traffic Enforcement Unit who passed by the area on a motorcycle, saw the commotion and tried to go after the robbers. One of the suspects shot at him but missed.

Deveza fired back and hit one of the suspects. However, the latter was saved by his companions and they fled towards an unknown direction.

At the police station’s rogue gallery, one of the victims identified one of the suspects as Jennnis Pagtakhan, a resident of 578 Facundo Street, Pasay City.

Petrasanta said a manhunt has already been launched for Pagtakhan and his suspected cohorts.