Valenzuela businessman hurt in P.2-M robbery

MANILA, Philippines - Police are still tracking down yesterday three motorcycle-riding men who shot and robbed a trader of P.2 million cash Friday afternoon in Valenzuela City.

Alejandro Li, 55, a resident of Barangay Lawang Bato in Valenzuela City, remains confined at the Chinese General Hospital due to a gunshot wound in the body.

Senior Police Officer 2 Armando Delima said Li was driving his Toyota Innova, accompanied by employee Yolando Sancio, when three men on a blue motorcycle flagged them down at the corner of Trinidad and Sibesco streets in Barangay Canumay East at around 1:30 p.m.

The robbers, one with a drawn handgun, approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and demanded money from Li but the trader refused. The robber shot Li, hitting him in the left side of the body.

Sancio, who was holding the P200,000 in two bundles, handed the money to the robbers for fear that they would be killed.

The gunmen sped off toward a service road en route to Barangay Paso de Blas with the loot.

Northern Police District-Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), led by Inspector Jose Bonifacio, recovered a shell for a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

The NPD-SOCO is looking if the shell matches bullets recovered in other robberies in Valenzuela involving traders.