Meralco Laguna office loses P.7-M to robbers

SAN PEDRO, Laguna — Five armed men robbed the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) office here of about P700,000 in a heist that lasted just about three minutes yesterday afternoon.

Chief Inspector Nilo Berdin, San Pedro police chief, said the robbers barged into the Meralco branch along the national highway in Barangay San Antonio at about 2:30 p.m.

They disarmed the three security guards and then ordered Meralco customers to lie on the floor before emptying the cash registers.

Police said the guards chased the robbers who fled on foot, but were met by a hail of gunfire. They shot back until the robbers managed to commandeer a tricycle.

A vendor, a certain Dominador Balasan, was caught in the crossfire and was hit by a stray bullet in the right thigh. — Rene Alviar