6 teens rob family in Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines - Six teenagers armed with handguns barged into a grocery store in Mandaluyong City Thursday, herded the grocer and his family into a room and robbed them, police said yesterday.

Peter Mendoza was pistol-whipped on the head when he tried to fight off the robbers. He is being treated at a nearby hospital.

His wife, Armilita, 56; and son, Allan, were still in a state of shock when they reported the robbery to the city police hours later.

Police said Armilita was tending their grocery store at Noeve de Pebrero street in Barangay Pleasant Hills when one of the robbers barged in at about 6:15 p.m. Thursday. The teen pointed a handgun at her head and dragged her into the house.

The Mendozas were ordered to lie down on the floor and be quiet during the heist, which took 30 minutes.

The suspects ransacked the house and store and took P30,000, a digital camera worth P11,000, gold jewelry worth P30,000 and a cell phone costing P9,000.