2 'patients' rob dentist of P.4 million

MANILA, Philippines – Two men posed as patients and robbed a dental clinic in Malate, Manila Thursday afternoon, escaping with more than P400,000 worth of money and valuables.

Police said at around 2:30 p.m., one of two men riding a black motorcycle without license plates entered the clinic of Dr. Robert John Hilario at the corner of Leon Guinto and Pasaje de Galvan streets, ostensibly for a consultation.

While Hilario was attending to him, the suspect excused himself, saying he would ask his companion to step inside the clinic. However, the suspect returned holding a gun and announced a heist.

The suspects hogtied Hilario with a cellphone charger cord and ordered his assistant, Jean Tabila, to remain in a corner. The suspects took P360,000 from the clinic’s cash box.

One of the suspects went upstairs and pistol-whipped Hilario’s wife, Farida, rendering her unconscious. The suspect then ransacked the bedroom and took a digital camera, a cell phone, a portable play station and a wallet containing P1,000.

The suspects then fled towards Quirino Avenue.

The victims failed to identify the suspects through photos of known robbery suspects shown to them by theft and robbery section head Chief Inspector Benigno Macalindong. However, Macalindong formed a police team to go after the suspects. – Nestor Etolle