Dutch and her date robbed at Quezon Circle

An evening chat in the park at Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City turned into a scarring experience for a Dutch social worker and her Filipino boyfriend after robbers allegedly pounced on the lovers late Thursday.

The couple lost cash and valuables worth P80,000 to seven men armed with a .38-caliber revolver, a knife and a screwdriver, police said

Minutes before the holdup, the victims, who were passing time on a bench in a well-lighted area, first saw the suspects loitering near the park’s museum at around 10:30 p.m.

The men later approached them and forced the woman to hand over her shoulder bag containing about P66,000 in cash, two mobile phones and a video camera, the complaint said.

The suspects ran toward the park fence facing North Avenue. The Dutch woman then shouted for help and caught the attention of roving security guards, but they were too late to give chase.

The Dutch citizen was involved in social work in the Philippines, according to case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Joselito Mendoza.

The two victims were supposed to watch a basketball game in Cubao but, unable to get tickets, opted to go on a date at the park that night, Mendoza said.