Van used in daring robbery found in Makati

MANILA, Philippines - The Toyota Innova van used in the daring robbery of a woman near the ABS-CBN television station in Quezon City last Tuesday was found by the Makati Police in Barangay Singkamas on Thursday afternoon.

Makati Police chief, Sr. Supt. Ernesto Barlam said the metallic silver van (PCO-129) was found abandoned at the corner of Montojo and Moonlight streets by police officers on patrol at about 4:45 p.m.

Barlam said they are still tracing if the van had been reported as carjacked as the license plates attached to it were stolen from another vehicle in Barangay Cembo in Makati last October 20.

“The license plates were stolen from a Toyota Vios which was parked at the BLISS in Barangay Cembo. The plates were reported as stolen between midnight and 4 am while the car was parked,” said Barlam.

Barlam said they have started gathering footages from closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in Barangay Singkamas to help probers identify the van’s occupants before the vehicle was abandoned.

Barlam said several bags were found inside the van. The bags and its contents were still being inspected by Makati Police scene of the crime officers (SOCO) as of late Friday afternoon.

A CCTV footage showed the walking along Mother Ignacia Avenue near Samar St. at about 6:15 a.m. when a man aboard the Innova van alighted from the vehicle and suddenly grabbed her bag.

The unidentified victim tried to take back her bag but gave up when the suspect pointed a gun at her. Several people were also in the area but they were not able to help the victim.

After the robbery, the van then sped towards EDSA with the victim’s bag reportedly containing two mobile phones and P20,000 in cash.

Authorities earlier said that based on the CCTV footage, the Innova's front plate number was an “8” protocol license plate – the assigned number for congressmen – while the back bore the PLO-129 license plate.