Robbers take payroll

Some P850,000 representing salaries for Quezon City Hall employees were stolen yesterday morning in a holdup carried out by two motorcycle-riding men inside the Quezon City Hall grounds yesterday.

Initial information gathered by police investigators revealed that the incident happened at around 10:30 a.m. at the back of the Quezon City Hall near a Land Bank of the Philippines branch.

Three employees of the Social Services Development Department (SSDD) identified as Zenaida Clavecilla, administrative officer; Danilo Malabasco; and Helen Frilles had just come from the bank after withdrawing cash for the payroll.

Malabasco narrated that when they were some 30 meters away from the bank, a motorcycle suddenly emerged. One of the suspects pointed a handgun at him and grabbed the plastic bag containing the cash. The suspects then sped off toward East Avenue.

Witnesses interviewed by The STAR said they noticed the motorcycle parked in front of the office of the Federation of Women Civic Organizations of QC Inc. an hour before the incident.

Lourdes Cabral, a traffic aide detailed in the area, said she blew her whistle several times to catch the attention of security guards and policemen to block the escaping suspects. "But nobody seemed to notice because everyone was shocked. Everything happened so fast," she said.

Witnesses said the suspects were wearing helmets but still described them as between the 20 and 30s years old and with medium builds.