3 killed in attack on Banco Filipino owner's house

MANILA, Philippines - Three escort-bodyguards of Banco Filipino owner Albert “Bobby” Aguirre were shot dead by about 10 armed men who barged into his house in BF Homes, Las Piñas City shortly before midnight Saturday.

The Southern Police District, which supervises Las Piñas, identified the fatalities as security guard David Manguera, retired Senior Police Officer 2 Melvin Padaca and PO3 Luisito Macatunao.

Padaca and Macatunao were both from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).

Las Piñas City police chief Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said Manguera allowed the assassins into Aguirre’s compound in BF Homes International along Tropical Avenue at about 11:15 p.m.

The gunmen got out of several vehicles, rushed to Padaca and shot him in the head.

The others rushed to the security barracks and shot Macatunao also in the head.

Aguirre, who was on the second floor, was unharmed. He told investigators that he did not witness anything because he was inside his room.

Sapitula said that based on the testimony of Aguirre’s personal driver Fernando Aribon, Manguera opened the gate after the attackers, on board a Rusi motorcycle (3962WL), taxi and two sedan cars, blew their horn.

Video of footage of nearby surveillance cameras shows that the assassins were armed with “short caliber pistols” and were clad in civilian clothes, Sapitula said.

The chief of police was quoted in reports as ruling out robbery as motive because no valuables - except for Padaca’s gun – were taken inside the Aguirre compound. The attackers also left the motorcycle at the crime scene.

The police have already interviewed the owner of the motorcycle who claimed that it was stolen a few hours before the shooting incident occurred.

“It seems like Bobby Aguirre wasn’t the target because after hitting the three the suspects immediately left,” said an investigator.

Investigators, however, are not ruling out any possibility at the moment and all angles will be pursued to identify, arrest and prosecute the killers.

Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona said his men are still exerting efforts to establish the identities of the killers and their motives.

Aguirre’s relative, a masseuse and two house helpers who were all inside the compound at the time of the attack will be interviewed by the police.

Banco Filipino was ordered close earlier this year after its liabilities reached more than P8 billion. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe