Japanese couple robbed of cash, valuables in Makati City’s BSA Tower condo

MANILA, Philippines—Authorities are now on the hunt for four men who broke into the condominium unit of an elderly Japanese couple in Makati City Saturday and took with them cash and valuables after tying up their victims.

Police Officr 3 Jemcel Acosta of the Makati City Police said four men broke into the unit of couple Akira Hishimoto, 75, and Takuo Yoshimoto, 74, at the BSA Tower on Legaspi Street in Legaspi Village around 11:30 a.m.

At knifepoint, the robbers tied down the victims, along with their Filipino secretary, Cherrie Cabacaccan, 59, and dragged them inside the comfort room.

The robbers reportedly managed to enter the building by posing as visitors and even registered on the logbook of the condominium’s security guard. They registered as Victor Riviero, Victor Ceva, Michael Dela Cruz and Jimmy Kinta.

They then went to the Japanese couple’s unit and ransacked the house for valuables.

“Of course, we don’t expect these to be their real names,” police said.

The victims told police they lost P100,000 in cash, laptops, cell phones, passports and assorted pieces of jewelry.

Acosta said the BSA Tower apparently had no closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera, which could have been a big help in identifying the robbers.

He said they were coordinating with the management of nearby establishments equipped with CCTVs that could have captured the image of the fleeing robbers.

It was not clear why the condominium security guard allowed the men in, unless they were vouched for by any of the building residents.