Businessman loses P1.5 million to motorbike-riding robbers

MANILA, Philippines - Three motorcycle-riding robbers robbed a businessman who had just withdrawn P1.5 million from a bank in Caloocan City yesterday morning.

Superintendent Norberto Babagay, North Caloocan Police Station (NCPS) chief, said Armando Abergas was driving his Mitsubishi Pajero along P. De la Cruz street in Kaybiga when the robbers waylaid him and robbed him at gunpoint at around 10:30 a.m.

Abergas allegedly drew his 9mm pistol and fired at the robbers as they fled from the scene. He was hit when the robbers returned fire, police said.

Bystander Marlon Pil Loresas was hit in the arm by a stray bullet. Both victims were taken to an undisclosed hospital.

Police are eyeing a link between yesterday’s robbery and a heist at a construction supply store in the same area and about the same time.

Police said Zenaida Sun Lao, owner of the Sun Lao Construction Supply on Calamansian street in Maligaya Park said the robbers were wearing camouflage shorts, had cropped hair and arrived on a motorcycle.

The robbers pretended to be customers but once inside the store, drew their weapons and declared a holdup.

The unidentified robbers took over P10,000 and some $700 from the cash register before fleeing on their getaway motorcycle.

No one was reported hurt or killed in this attack.