Pasig River cleanup group loses P1.3 million in payroll heist

MANILA, Philippines - Three Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) employees were robbed of P1.3 million they had just withdrawn from a bank in Quezon City Friday to pay for the salaries of their fellow employees.

The robbery happened at around 11:50 a.m. along Xavierville Avenue in Project 2, when the three PRRC employees were taking the money to the office.

The three employees failed to describe the facial features of the suspects, who wore helmets and bonnets.

They said they had just withdrawn money from a bank on Katipunan Avenue Friday morning and were on their way to their office at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources compound on Visayas Avenue when their car was blocked by four men on two motorcycles along Xavierville Avenue.

At gunpoint, the robbers took the money and pistol-whipped and punched two of the employees.

Superintendent Lino Banaag, head of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said it is possible the robbers may have a spy at the bank or in the PRRC.