CNN reporter held up in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY — A Thai journalist from CNN, who visited this city to meet her text mate, lost cash, a cellular phone and her ATM card to robbers who victimized her near the Botanical Garden here last Monday night.

Senior Superintendent Moises Guevarra, officer-in-charge of the city police, said CNN reporter Naisha Makai Buburah, 27, who also writes for the TV program "Animal Planet," met her text mate of two years, a certain Alice from La Trinidad, Benguet, at the popular park at about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

As Alice boarded a taxicab, two motorcycle-riding men armed with knives held up Buburah, divesting her of her Vodaphone mobile unit worth P50,000, ATM card and cash — $500, 6,500 Thai baht and P6,500. She later reported her ordeal to the police.

Buburah is reportedly half-Filipino, her mother a second-degree cousin of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.

Guevarra vowed that the robbers will be arrested soon since the police have their sketches.

Several months ago, Baguio City’s image as a tourist destination was tainted when Korean nationals were held up along the highway. Seven suspects were collared last month.