Pawnshop woman with P400K robbed, killed en route to bank

A pawnshop employee on her way to deposit P400,000 in a bank was robbed and shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men in Makati City on Thursday morning.

The assailants were able to take the victim’s bag containing the money, but some of the cash fell on the street. The Makati police said some P100,000 were recovered.

Chief Insp. Reycon Garduque said Raquel Ricafrente, 21, resident of Sta. Rosa, Laguna province, and an appraiser at Tambunting Pawnshop, was ambushed on Calatagan Street in Barangay Palanan around 11 a.m.

A deposit slip recovered from Ricafrente indicated that the victim was about to deposit P400,000 in a nearby branch of Bank of the Philippine Islands. An initial report said she was carrying payroll money.

The woman was walking on Dian Street toward Gil Puyat Avenue when the two men on the bike, both wearing helmets, blocked her path and held her at gunpoint at the corner of Calatagan Street. Witnesses said she resisted, prompting the back rider to shoot her.

The men took the bag and fled toward Gil Puyat. Ricafrente died on the spot.

Three bullet casings were later found at the scene. Garduque said the police had requested security camera footage from nearby establishments to help in the investigation. Erika Sauler