LUCENA CITY , Philippines – A copra trader in Candelaria town was robbed of P600,000 in a daring holdup by three still unidentified armed men Tuesday afternoon, police said yesterday.
Senior Police Officer 2 Menardo del Mundo, Candelaria police investigator, said at around 1:45 p.m., a certain Chona Mercado, employee of Margarita Que who is in copra trading, withdrew a huge amount from a local bank.
Two unidentified suspects suddenly appeared and approached Mercado from behind when they reached the gate of the former Diamond Oil Mill compound located in Barangay Bukal Sur while on board a company truck.
Mercado, terrified, handed the money to the robbers after they fired successive gunshots in the air announcing the holdup.
The robbers immediately escaped aboard a red motorcycle driven by another accomplice toward the town proper.
Police investigators recovered five empty shells from a .9mm caliber pistol at the area. – Michelle Zoleta