Robbers strike at Laguna governor's mall

STA. CRUZ, Laguna , Philippines  – At least eight heavily armed men wearing police T-shirts ransacked stores in a shopping mall here owned by the family of Gov. Teresita Lazaro early Monday morning, police said.

Senior Superintendent Manulito Labador, Laguna police director, said the robbers, brandishing M-16 Armalite rifles and 9-mm pistols, barged into the Sun Star Mall in Barangay Gatid at around 1:30 a.m. and disarmed the five security guards on duty then.

The robbers then ransacked several cell phone stores, the Waltermart Store, the mall’s administration office, a jewelry shop and a money-changing outlet.

Police said the Waltermart’s alarm system was apparently triggered, prompting its Manila operator to alert a mall security guard who was disarmed, too, when he responded.

Probers said the heist lasted for only less than an hour and the robbers fled aboard two cars, carting away about P2 million in cash and valuables.                 – Arnell Ozaeta