Guard foils attack on bus service station

A 32-year-old security guard is in critical condition after he shot it out with two unidentified suspects who reportedly attempted to burn down a bus service station in Pasay City early yesterday.

Pasay police chief Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta identified the victim as Raul Bansig, married, an employee of Kintanar Detective and Security Agency and assigned at the Philtranco KIA Shop located along Aurora Boulevard in Pasay City.

Bansig is still undergoing treatment at the Philippine General Hospital for a gunshot wound in the chest.

Initial investigation showed that around 2 a.m., Bansig was manning Gate 2 of the Philtranco service station when he noticed two men loitering in the area.

Bansig approached the men and questioned them but one of the suspects suddenly pulled out a gun and shot him. Bansig was able to shoot back but his attackers managed to escape.

Bansig’s colleague, Julman Jalali, found the victim wounded and lying on the ground near Gate 2.

Petrasanta said the suspects left two shopping bags on the center island in front of the bus firm’s motor pool station. The bags held five gallons of gasoline and one bar of detergent soap.

He said he immediately ordered members of the Explosives and Ordinance Division to detonate the contents of the bags to make sure that it will not harm or cause damage to lives or property.

Petrasanta said a follow-up investigation is still being conducted to verify initial reports that the suspects wanted to set the bus service station on fire.

“It is possible that the suspects would want to extort money from the company and would use the gasoline they brought to threaten the personnel, or use it if their demands will not be answered. But the guard who fought back made them retreat,” he added.