Armed Robbery Attempted During P300k Phone In-Person Transaction in Makati — 3 Arrested, Including Chinese National, Impersonating 'NBI'

📌 On the night of September 3, on Amorsolo Street in Makati, a gang brandishing firearms attempted to steal cash and a vehicle from buyers conducting a 300,000-peso mobile phone transaction.
The incident was immediately reported to a nearby police outpost, leading to the on-site apprehension of one Chinese national and two Filipinos, along with the seizure of two handguns.

■ Incident Details
· Around 7:55 PM on Amorsolo Street, Pio del Pilar. Two victims met the sellers to purchase five high-end mobile phones for 300,000 pesos.
· While transacting inside a parked car, several men boarded the vehicle and attempted to steal the money, forcibly grabbing the steering wheel and trying to drive the car away.
· One of the victims, a woman, stated she was threatened at gunpoint by a man who claimed to be conducting an "NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) entrapment operation."
· Another victim chased the vehicle and alerted the police outpost on Fernando Street and Chino Roces Avenue, prompting police to intercept a black Ford Territory and a silver Toyota Fortuner.

■ Arrests and Seizures
· Three suspects arrested: a 27-year-old Chinese national (residing in Pasay) and two Filipinos aged 24 and 19 (residing in Taguig).
· Seized items include a 9mm pistol (loaded with 7 rounds), a .38 caliber revolver (loaded with 3 rounds), multiple license plates, mobile phones, and approximately 1.8g of illegal drugs (shabu).
· Turned over to authorities facing charges of attempted robbery, grave coercion, usurpation of authority, illegal possession of firearms, drug violations, and traffic offenses. The Makati mayor commended the police for their swift response.

■ Reminders for Expats and Travelers
· When conducting in-person cash transactions for used or high-end items, choose secured shopping malls or areas near police stations instead of inside cars or on the street.
· If someone claims to conduct an "NBI or police raid" during a transaction, do not comply immediately; ask for identification and verify through 911. Real operations do not collect money on the spot.
· For transactions involving large sums of money, do not go alone, and have a companion monitor the situation from outside the vehicle. In this case as well, the victim outside the vehicle was able to report it immediately, leading to the capture of the suspects.

■ Sources
Daily Tribune (9/4), Manila Bulletin (9/4), Inquirer (9/4), Manila Times (9/5)

■ Photo
The three arrested suspects (faces blurred, Southern Police District release photo — Daily Tribune)