Meralco’s Laguna branch robbed

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Eight armed men reportedly robbed a Meralco branch office in Barangay Ignacio in San Pablo City on Sunday morning, carting away cash amounting to P.4 million.

The robbers also took the firearms and communications equipment issued to the branch’s four security guards.

Senior Superintendent Mark Edison Belarma, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group IV-A (CIDG) regional director, said the suspects were fully armed and wore black "PNP" shirts when they raided the Meralco office at around 2 a.m.

Two of the robbers reportedly introduced themselves as members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Two of the robbers tied up the four guards and employees in the hallway.

Belarma said the heist lasted only 10 to 15 minutes and the robbers fled on board a black vehicle with license plate XRX-917.

"We are still investigating the incident," Belarma said.

Belarma said he had instructed Superintendent Flaviano Baltazar, Laguna-CIDG field commander, to form a team to conduct a separate investigation on the incident and to coordinate with the local police and the National Bureau of Investigation.