Family visiting relative’s tomb robbed by armed man

MANILA, Philippines– Even among the dead, no one is safe.

A couple found this out for themselves when a tattooed man pointed a gun at their 12-year-old son then seized their valuables, including electronic gadgets, while they were visiting the tomb of a relative at a cemetery in Caloocan City Thursday, the police said.

Gerwin Pisquel, 33, a resident of Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan, was visiting his father-in-law’s grave in La Loma Cemetery with his wife and son at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday when an armed man robbed them of a Nokia cellphone worth P 16,500, a Samsung cellphone worth P 6,000, a digital camera worth P6,000, an ATM card and identification cards, according to PO2 Romel Bautista of the Caloocan City police station.

Security guards of the cemetery tried but failed to find the assailant, Bautista said.

In a complaint he filed with the police at 10 a.m. Friday, Pisquel described the suspect as slim, with curly hair and had tattoos.

Pisquel said he and his family have been visiting their relative’s tomb every month but this was the first time they experienced such an incident.

He said his wife and son were so frightened by the assault that they cried, adding that he would not stop until the suspect is arrested.