MANILA, Philippines — About P1.5 million worth of cash and jewelry pieces were stolen from a store in Sta. Cruz, Manila, on Wednesday morning.
According to a police report, the incident happened along CM Recto Avenue, Sta. Cruz, at around 7 a.m.
Police said the suspect held the victim, Teodulo Cay, 73, at gunpoint and took the bag full of money and pieces of jewelry, and then immediately fled.
A witness, whose details were withheld for security purposes, said the incident happened as soon as the jewelry store opened.
“Kanina, pagkabukas [ng store], pagbalik ko sa pwesto, umungol si Ka Dulo (victim). Paglingon ko, nakita ko ‘yung mama, nandoon na sa baba. Nakita ko ‘yung bag ni Ka Dulo. Nagsisisigaw na siya,” the witness said in an interview.
The witness said he and other men in the area ran after the suspect, but the suspect pulled out a gun and then boarded a motorcycle that appeared to be waiting nearby. A CCTV footage confirmed this.
The suspect was wearing a hat and a face mask, the witness also said.
“Maraming tao ang saksi na hinabol ko doon kaso lang bumunot ng baril kaya medyo lumayo na kami nang kaunti,” he said.
Gandara Police Community Precinct Commander Maj. Victor de Leon said the victim could have been targeted and tailed.
“‘Yung tao po talaga ang puntirya. Maaaring nasundan siya kasi ‘yung tao [suspect] alam kung anong oras siya naglalakad sa lugar na ito. Parang pinagplanuhan siguro,” De Leon said in an interview.