Police Nab 4 of 7 Men Who Allegedly Robbed a Bakeshop in Lipa City & Tied Up Its Sleeping Guard
Four of the seven men who allegedly robbed a bakeshop and restaurant in Lipa City, Batangas, have been arrested in Manila, while police are still hunting down the three others.
The robbery happened early Tuesday (November 3, 2026) at Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant along J.P. Laurel Highway in Barangay Sabang, Abante TNT reported. Based on CCTV footage cited by ABS-CBN News, the suspects arrived aboard a tuk-tuk at around 1:48 a.m.
The CCTV inside the establishment showed the men suddenly surrounding the security guard, who was sleeping on a sofa. The guard tried to fight back but was overpowered. The suspects then tied his hands and feet and covered his eyes.
The group reportedly took the guard’s 9mm pistol and cellphone, as well as a vault containing around P200,000 in sales. Investigators said they got inside by destroying the lock of the main door.
The name of the tuk-tuk’s registered operator, which was visible on the vehicle, led police to Tondo, Manila. Two suspects were first arrested in separate operations along Bambang Street in Tondo and in Parola, Binondo, and were positively identified by the guard.
“Meron siyang markings at meron siyang body number. Yung pangalan ng operator nila, yung brand ng kanilang minamaneho, ay nag-o-operate lang sa Tondo, Manila,” (It had markings and a body number. The name of their operator and the brand they drive only operate in Tondo, Manila.) Lipa City Police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Aleli Buaquen said, as quoted by Totoong Balita.
Two more suspects were later caught at a hotel along Recto Avenue in Manila, where they were allegedly talking about how to spend the stolen money. The tuk-tuk was also recovered.
One of the arrested men, alias “Kevin,” claimed he was only hired to drive the group to Lipa City to supposedly pick up cooking oil and did not know they planned a robbery.
According to Buaquen, the suspects are in their 20s and have been involved in previous theft and illegal drug incidents. Police are also looking into whether the same group was behind robberies at fast-food branches in Tarlac City in July and in Tagaytay City on October 27.
The four arrested suspects are now facing robbery charges, while the manhunt continues for their three companions, identified only by their aliases Rommil, Daniel and Jayson.
