Sunday, April 13, 2008 Robbers take away P345T cash By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Four motorcycle-riding robbers have successfully staged a broad daylight heist, taking with them P345,000 cash from a 70-year-old businessman in this city.
Police said Basilio Guillermo, of Dolores Homesite Extension in Barangay Dolores here, was just seconds away from his home carrying his freshly withdrawn money from the Metrobank Dolores Branch when the suspects, riding in tandem in two motorcycles, robbed him last Friday.
Superintendent Renato Soria, who led a fruitless police dragnet operation against the suspects, said Guillermo's house was just a stone-throw away from the residence of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.
It was 2 p.m. Friday, when four male suspects, riding two separate motorcycles flagged down the unsuspecting Guillermo who was cruising his way home alone on board his gray Mitsubishi Pajero bearing license plate RGF-705.
Prevailing to stop the victim's vehicle, two of the suspects approached the driver's side and pointed a gun at Guillermo, prodding the latter to open the door.
When Guillermo refused to open his car's door, one of the suspects smashed the glass window and forcibly took the money, which was at the front passenger seat.
It was not reported although if the victim was hurt in the incident.
After taking the money, the suspects fled eastward towards McArthur Highway. A prompt dragnet operation launched by the police failed to catch up with the suspects.
Soria said a woman unknown to the victim talked to latter right after he withdrew his money from the teller, saying "that's a lot of money for the old man."
Soria said the bank teller even overheard the woman's comment.
The bank management allegedly said the woman, who has yet to be identified, did not have any transaction with the bank on that day.
This incident is another storm in the peace and order climate of the city, which has yet to recover from last week's dastardly committed robbery and multiple rape cases in the component city.
