Briton robbed of P2.2M cash

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A Briton and his Filipina wife were robbed at gunpoint yesterday of P2.2 million in cash by at least six men, riding-in-tandem on three motorcycles, along San Juan Street in this city.

The victims were identified as 64-year-old Bryan Foster and wife Rosario Nee Beronilla, both residents of Burgos Street in Barangay Lutao of Bacong town in Negros Oriental.

Investigation showed the couple had just received the second half of the payment for the lot in Valencia town they sold to another foreign national, identified only as a certain Germann.

The total cost of the lot was P4.4 million, the first half of the payment of which was paid last week.

German had just withdrawn the P2.2-million cash from a bank in the city and gave it to the Foster couple as full payment of the lot he bought from them.

While Foster was driving his multicab, the men on motorcycles waylaid the couple in front of a business establishment at San Juan Street.

The backriders, armed with hand guns, approached Rosario, who was sitting at the front passenger side of the multicab, and at gunpoint grabbed her shoulder bag where the money was placed.

The wife resisted forcing one of the robbers to hit her on the forehead with a gun, while the other robber pointed a gun at Foster then grabbed his attaché case containing some documents, passports, alien certificate of registration.

The other companions of the robbers served as look out and in less than five minutes, the robbery was consummated. The robbers quickly scampered in different directions on their motorcycles, also carting away from the victims two cellphones, a camera and driver's license, among others.

Foster went directly to a hospital to have his wife treated of the injury inflicted on her forehead.

A massive manhunt operation was conducted, as of press time yesterday, as exit points from the city were sealed off by the police. (FREEMAN)