US mayor robbed in mall

A visiting mayor from California lost at least half a million pesos to suspected "Salisi Gang" operators while she was getting her hair done in a beauty parlor in a mall in Malate, Manila last Friday.

The incident was a big embarrassment to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

According to a Manila Police District report, Mayor Ruth Uy Asmudson, 62, of Davis, California, went to the Jun Encarnacion beauty salon in Harrison Plaza to get her hair styled Friday afternoon.

She placed her bag near her feet while a beautician worked on her hair. When the job was complete, the mayor reached for her bag to get her wallet and discovered that it was missing, the police said.

Aside from $9,000 cash, Asmudson also lost several checks, her driver’s license, credit cards and passport. The wallet was tucked in Asmudson’s carry-on bag.

Asmudson filed a complaint at the Malate police station before attending to her commitments. She is in town to give a lecture at a forum at Adamson University in Manila.

It was not stated in the police report how many clients and beauty salon personnel were in the parlor when the theft occurred. However, police also suspect that so-called "Salisi Gang" operators were responsible. They are experts in snatching valuables when their intended prey is unaware and occupied.

The gang usually strikes in crowded places like restaurants, malls and beauty parlors, police added. Investigators said they will invite personnel of the beauty salon who were there at the time of the theft to get a clear picture of the incident.

Atienza, after learning of the incident, said the police commander in charge of the area will be held responsible.

"This is a big embarrassment. I do not want a repeat of our visitors being victimized," Atienza said, assuring Asmudson that he "would hold the police official accountable" for the incident. – With Evelyn Macairan