Pasig firm loses P1 M to payroll robbers

A businessman lost P1 million in payroll money and valuables to four armed men who barged inside his establishment in Pasig City, police said yesterday.

Police are now hot on the trail of a white Toyota Corolla taxi after several witnesses said it was used as a get-away vehicle by the robbers.

Initial reports showed that two armed men barged into the Anlud Metal Recycling Corp. office located on Elisco Road in Barangay Kalawaan at about 3:15 p.m. last Wednesday.

They disarmed the lone security guard of his caliber .38 revolver.

The company owner, Albert Dy, 28, said two suspects went into his office and at gunpoint announced the heist. Two other suspects, also armed with handguns, served as lookouts outside the establishment.

Dy said the robbers carted away the P351,000 in payroll money; P30,000 in cash; two cell phones worth more than P30,000; a digital camera worth P20, 000; a licensed 9mm pistol; and two handheld radios.

The four robbers fled toward Barangay San Joaquin on board a taxi.

Police have coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to trace the owner of the taxi.

Meanwhile, a suspected robber was killed in a gunbattle with responding elements of a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team minutes after his group held up an Indian trader in Pasig City.

Two of his companions were arrested.

Ateks Saroni, sustained a gunshot wound in the head and died on the spot.

Those arrested were identified as Salic Faisal, 35, and Allan Junide, 24, both natives of Marawi City.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr., Pasig City police chief, said his men recovered a caliber .45 automatic pistol, a caliber .38 revolver and the P30,000 cash the suspects took from victim Gorcharan Pharmar Singh, 55, a resident of Ilaya Buting.

Uyami said the victim and his helper Normita Crisostomo, 24, had just collected the daily remittances of a gasoline station along Eliseo Road in Barangay San Joaquin when the suspects, on board a tricycle, blocked their path at about 10:30 a.m.

At gunpoint, the suspects announced a heist and grabbed the P30,000 collection of the Indian.

The trio boarded their get-away vehicle and fled toward Pateros town.

The victim alerted a traffic enforcer near the area, who, in turn, reported the incident to police.

Upon being informed of the robbery, the city’s SWAT team gave chase and caught up with the suspects at the Luna compound in Barangay Sta. Ana, Pateros.

Uyami said the suspects opened fire at pursuing SWAT operatives, prompting them to return fire.

Pharmar said the P30, 000 was recovered intact.