Five bank employees fall victims to robbers

Sometimes they rob the bank, sometimes they rob the bank employees.

Five female bank employees from Davao City who were attending a business gathering here fell victims to three robbers the other night while they were on their way to the hotel where they were billeted.

The victims reported to the Theft and Robbery Section that three unidentified men estimated to be 20 to 25 years old, stand approximately 5'5" tall were onboard a motorcycle.

The said men blocked their way, while they were walking towards the hotel, and announced a hold-up.

Police identified the victims as Janet Gamal Ong, 38; Loraine Gaye Santos Rosales, 26; Marie Joy Magpantay, 33; Gertrude Flores Suriba, 44; and Marie Gracia Gutierrez, 43, all employees of PCI Equitable Bank in Davao City.

The victims told the police that they were walking towards the hotel they were staying, but upon reaching the corner of Gorordo Avenue and P. Calomarde Street in barangay Camputhaw, the men onboard a motorcycle suddenly blocked their way.

Two of the three men reportedly approached them, took out handguns of an undetermined caliber, pointed these at them and announced a hold-up. The two also warned them that they will be raped and shot if they resisted.

Ong lost P3,000 cash and a Nokia 6610-I mobile phone, an airline ticket and important documents, while Rosales lost her wallet worth P2,800 containing P3,000 cash, her pearl earrings worth P4,000 and cellular phone worth P11,000.

Magpantay lost a total of P8,900 cash, and a 3310 cellular phone; Suriba lost P5,290 cash, 25 US$ and her N91 cellular phone worth P35,000, while Flores lost her bag worth P3,800 containing valuables and important documents.

The robbers, they said, hurriedly got on the waiting motorcycle driven by the third robber and fled. - Edwin Ian Melecio