Robbers target Parañaque councilor's house

MANILA, Philippines - Three robbers barged into the house of a Parañaque City councilor and took P170,000 in money, jewelry, and gadgets, as well as disposable diapers, Wednesday. 

Councilor Eric Baes said the robbers barged into their family’s compound along Quirino Avenue in Barangay Tambo at around 9 p.m. He told The STAR that the “medium-built and young-looking” robbers poked guns at the members of his family, including his sons, aged two and nine.

“This is the hefty price we have to pay for our refusal to hire security guards,” he said in a phone interview.

He said he was outside the house and only his wife, niece, sons, and some household members were in when the robbery was held. He was just thankful that no one was hurt in the incident.

According to Baes, people go in and out of their compound without undergoing tight restrictions as he is trying to veer away from the “traditional politician” image. He said the security is so lax that anybody can park their cars inside their area and come to them for any grievance or concern.

He added that since the 1,000-square meter compound also houses his mother’s relatives, they do not have any control on who can go through their gates even if several robberies have already occurred.

According to Baes, it is possible that they know the suspects “because one of them was even apologizing to my wife.”

The councilor is now considering installing closed-circuit television cameras and called on his relatives to ensure that the gates are always closed.

Baes said he may stop entertaining constituents at his house and just ask them to go to the city hall for their concerns.

He said there were hardly any clues, except for a few palm prints and a flashlight the robbers left behind.