Armed men rob bus in Camarines Norte

NAGA CITY, Philippines—Four heavily-armed men robbed passengers of a bus traveling along the Maharlika Highway in Santa Elena town, Camarines Norte just before midnight Monday, the police said.

Senior Inspector Sandie Caparroso, Santa Elena police chief, said Tuesday that the passengers of the Philtranco bus, which was plying the Daet-Manila route, fell victim to the robbers armed with .45-caliber and .38-caliber handguns and knives when the vehicle reached Barangay Bulala at around 11:30 p.m.

The robbers seized valuables—cellular phones, jewelry and money worth an estimated P150,000 in total—from the 21 passengers then fled towards the mountainous area of Capalonga, neighboring town of Santa Elena, Caparroso said.

Investigators said the robbers had boarded the bus in Barangay Talobatib in Labo town, more than 30 kilometers from Daet and, after another over 30 km, declared a hold-up upon reaching a secluded area in Santa Elena.

Police have launched a manhunt to track down the suspects, said Caparrosa.