LPG outlet loses P500k in morning robbery

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - A distributor of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) of a multi-national gas company lost half a million pesos during a lightning heist Monday morning in this city, police said.

The police said five unidentified suspects pretended as customers and went inside AL Gonzales and Sons, distributor center of Gasul owned by Atty. Arsenio Gonzales along Veterans Ave. about 9 a.m Monday.

City Police director Senior Superintendent Dennis Basngi said 4 of the suspects declared the robbery while the other one held the security guard outside the office and acted as lookout.

The suspects took away some P500,000 and escaped on board motorcycles toward unknown direction.

The police said the heist was too fast and lasted for about a minute that even the owner who was inside his office failed to notice the incident.

Gonzales said that the money carted away by the suspect was their week's earnings and which were being prepared to be deposited to a bank.

Meanwhile, two out of town travelling merchants were robbed and executed by unidentified gunmen in the remote town of Mohammad Ajul, Basilan province Monday morning.

Police identified the victims as Levi Altubero and Arnel Diad, both residents of Tungawan town, Zamboanga Sibugay province.

The police said the victims were on board their motorcycle peddling various articles when they were flagged down and robbed and shot several times by the suspects about 9:30 a.m. at Barangay Languyan. Both victims died on the spot.