2 men breach security at MCIA, shoot guards

CEBU, Philippines - Two men onboard a motorcycle breached the security protocol at the entrance gate of Mactan-Cebu International Airport and fired at two security guards as they made a turn in the area early dawn yesterday.

The shooting wounded Samuel Lamoste, 36, and Roweno Moncada, 23, employees of VDS Security Agency who were detailed at the entrance gate of the airport when the incident happened at around 12:40 a.m.

As of press time yesterday, the two victims were already in a stable condition at the Mactan Doctors’ Hospital.

Senior Police Officer 2 Manolito Abellanosa, homicide investigator at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, told The FREEMAN that while Lamoste and Moncada were taking their 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. shift at the entrance gate near the PAGASA office, the yet unidentified suspects drove toward them, apparently heading to the direction of the airport.

However, when the guards ordered the suspects to stop for the security check, the latter just allegedly ignored them and sped off to the airport terminal.

“Gipahunong sila sa mga gwardya pero wala gyud mihunong. Midiretso sila og padagan. Giradyohan dayon nila ang ikaduhang security sa airport pero wa gihapon mihunong,” Abellanosa said.

Some airport police personnel who saw the two suspects onboard their green motorcycle with no plate number attempted to stop them but they never took heed, according to Aviations Security Group Chief Melvin Gayotin.

“Airport police tried to stop them because they (were) not wearing helmets. They (didn’t) stop and instead sped off towards the departure area,” Gayotin said.

Gayotin added that the suspects took a U-turn and drove against the traffic heading back to the airport’s entrance gate wherein Lamoste and Moncada were situated.

As they passed by the gate, one of the suspects allegedly drew a firearm and shot Lamoste, hitting him in the right shoulder. Moncada was also hit in the right leg with the bullet reportedly grazing his private parts.

One of the guards was able to fire back but the suspects managed to escape.

Abellanosa said they are yet to determine the type of firearm used by the assailants as they were not able to recover empty shells at the crime scene.

Police are still conducting a follow-up investigation for the possible identification and arrest of the suspects.  (FREEMAN)