German tourists robbed

Two German tourists lost some P1.4 million to four armed robbers shortly after exchanging their Deutschmarks in a foreign exchange shop in Mabini Street the other night.

Reports reaching the General Assignments Section of the Western Police District identified the victims as Paul Karmann, 61; and his wife Heidrun, 61; both temporarily staying at the YMCA International Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

Police said the couple had just exchanged their 61,470 Deutschmarks to pesos at the Edzen Money Changing Shop along Mabini Street, at about 6:10 p.m. when they were blocked by four armed men aboard a blue Nissan sedan with plate number PMG-923 at the corner of Sta. Monica street.

According to police, the armed men, at gunpoint grabbed the victim’s bag containing the cash. Police said Paul resisted but was quickly overpowered by the robbers.

After taking the cash, the robbers boarded the Nissan sedan and sped off towards Mabini Street.

When the police checked the robbers’ car plates with the Land Transportation Office, it was found that the plates was issued by LTO-Camp Aguinaldo to a 1989 model white Nissan pick-up owned by a certain Lydia Ochoa, of 925 Haig St., Mandaluyong City.

Police are tracking down the robbers based on the descriptions given by the victims. Investigators will also question Ochoa on how the robbers managed to take the license plates of her pick-up.

Meanwhile, two persons were gunned down in separate incidents in Tondo, Manila, early Monday morning and last Sunday.

The victims were identified as Michael Hermoso, 24, of 714 Delpan Street, Binondo; and Adrian Claros, 35, of Area H, Gate 56, Parola Compound, Tondo.

Reports reaching the Homicide Section of the Western Police District said Hermoso was having a drink with his friends outside his house at about 12:30 a.m. when a certain Boy, who is a known toughie in their neighborhood, passed by.

Police said Boy was apparently high on drugs when he pulled out a handgun and shot Hermoso once in the left temple.

Hermoso died on the spot while the suspect fled on foot with the gun. Witnesses told police that the suspect was apparently irritated by the noise created by the victim’s group.

Last Sunday night, Claros, a businessman, was playing billiards at a karaoke bar in Area-H in Tondo when three unidentified men entered at about 10 p.m.

Reports said that one of the three suspects approached the victim while the two others stood as lookouts outside.

Police said three gunshots later rang out before witnesses saw the three suspects hastily leaving the scene. Claros died on the spot. Responding policemen recovered three empty caliber .45 shells at the crime scene. – Mike Frialde