Bus passengers robbed in Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines - Four men, armed with handguns and knives, robbed 26 passengers of an air-conditioned bus in Mandaluyong City yesterday, and took off after two minutes with an undetermined amount of cash, jewelry and personal belongings.

When responding Mandaluyong City policemen arrived at the crime scene several minutes later, the suspects had long gone.

Bus driver Efren Cleofe, 49, said the four robbers boarded the Philippine Corinthian bus he was driving in front of the Reliance building along EDSA at around 11 a.m. yesterday. He said one of the robbers then approached him and at gunpoint ordered him to step on the brakes while the three other men robbed the bus conductor and the passengers.

The robbers disembarked quickly and flagged down another bus to escape. Investigators are showing the passengers the city police’s rogues’ gallery to see if they would recognize any of the robbers.