4 men rob bus at EDSA loading bay

MANILA, Philippines - Four armed men robbed the occupants of a Baclaran-bound bus along EDSA in Makati City before dawn yesterday and fled with some P30,000 in cash and valuables.

The Makati City police criminal investigation division said that about 3 a.m., the robbers boarded a Don Mariano Transit bus (UVF-600) at the EDSA-Estrella street bus loading bay. They then took out their guns and declared the heist.

Senior Police Officer 1 Rodrigo Igno said the robbers, described by witnesses as carrying “long and short guns,” took P25,000 in cash, jewelry and cell phones from the bus’ six passengers. They also robbed bus driver Mark Joseph San Pedro, 22; and took P5,800 from bus conductor Jerson Regalado, 24.

The robbers then left the bus, boarded a blue van parked nearby, and sped off toward Pasay City.

Police said the passengers failed to jot down the license plates of the getaway van. After the robbery, police said only San Pedro, Regalado and bus passenger Ma. Toni Rose Piramo, 24, filed complaints with the Makati Police Community Precinct 9.

Last week, the Makati police nabbed six members of the “Siete Pares” pickpocket ring preying on bus passengers. The suspects were arrested in a Pasay City-bound Malanday Gold Express bus (TXW-795) at about 3:18 p.m. Police said the suspects boarded the bus at the EDSA-Estrella street bus loading bay.