Family of 7 robbed in Marikina

MANILA, Philippines - Two armed men who identified themselves as power firm employees robbed an architect and his family in Marikina City Saturday.

One of the robbers also raped a member of the 37-year-old architect’s family before escaping.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel warned the public yesterday to be particularly careful when dealing with those who claim to be employees of utility firms.

Laurel said the two robbers repeatedly knocked at the front gate of the house of the architect in Barangay Concepcion Uno at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The architect, his parents, a 30-year-old female relative and three others were in the house at the time.

The two robbers, who are wearing helmets, were allowed inside after identifying themselves as power firm employees, and claiming that the house’s electrical connections were defective.

However, once inside the living room, the robbers pulled out their handguns and ordered the family to lie down the floor, according to Senior Police Officer 1 Charles Pacquing Jr.

He said the robbers took the family’s money, cell phones, jewelry, and personal belongings before raping the female relative.

The architect identified one of the robbers, known as “Diablo,” from the police rogues’ gallery, Laurel said.