Robbery shocks American family

MANILA, Philippines - A vacationing US Navy serviceman, his wife and their two children got a shock of their lives when their driver was shot dead by a lone robber who fled with P75,000 in cash and valuables in Antipolo City, Rizal Monday.

John William Bench, 39, assigned to the US Navy Fleet in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan, and his wife Maria Agnes, 44, tried to overpower the robber but failed and turned pale when he threatened to kill their children, Angelica, 16, and Anthony, 14.

The Bench couple told police that their driver, Peter Turiano, had fetched them from their hotel at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City, after which they went to Manila, Marikina City and finally in Antipolo.

After a few hours in a restaurant, they decided to go home.

But as they were about to make a turn on Sumulong Highway, the robber appeared on the side of Bench and at gunpoint, entered the car. He then ordered Turiano to drive toward a resort in Barangay San Luis.

While approaching the place, the robber shot Turiano in the head and commandeered the car, threatening the Bench family not to make any move.

But the Bench couple took courage and tried to grab the steering wheel and the gun, too, but failed. The robber drove toward the city proper, then jumped out and took a tricycle to escape.    – Non Alquitran