Vietnamese couple fall victim to robbers

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna— An elderly Vietnamese-American couple who have been longtime residents of San Pedro, Laguna, lost their cash and belongings to three robbers who introduced themselves as employees of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

San Pedro police chief Superintedent Kirby Kraft said Vu Huu Phong, 78, and his wife Thi Lang, 62, have set up residence in San Pedro since 1978 and both of them now live on their pensions.

Kraft said the robbers introduced themselves as Meralco employees conducting an inspection when they came by the victims’ apartment in Barangay (village) San Vicente in the afternoon of Dec. 20.

The victims let them in when one of them asked for a glass of water.

The robbers tied up the couple as they stole jewelry worth P270,000, a computer laptop, and cash amounting to P30,000 and $5,000. The couple was unharmed.

Kraft said the husband, an American citizen, goes back to the United States often and had just returned from the United States on Dec. 6. “The suspects must have an idea he had just arrived,” he said.

He said the victims recognized one of the robbers from the police rogue’s gallery as a certain Renato Amil, also a resident of San Pedro. Police have yet to track down the suspects. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern   Luzon