1 killed in bus heist along EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - One of three men who declared a heist inside a bus along Edsa in Quezon City yesterday got killed after one of its passengers turned out to be a rookie policeman and fought them off.

The slain suspect, Nelson Lacunsay, 24, died of a gunshot wound to the right side of his body that damaged his internal organs, according to Superintendent Audie Madrideo, commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 2.

The suspect’s two cohorts quickly fled with the loot after realizing they were no match to Police Officer 1 Randy Christian Agus Martirez, a maritime cop who was onboard the bus.

Madrideo said the maritime policeman emerged unscathed from the incident that happened at past noon along the northbound lane of Edsa near Sitio San Roque. He said the policeman was in civilian clothing and on his way to his residence in nearby Barangay Paltok when the incident happened.

According to Madrideo, the suspects boarded the bus in Cubao and paid to be brought to Trinoma mall. But as they got off the bus, the suspects declared the heist, taking away cellular phones of some of the passengers and P700 in cash from the bus conductor.

The slain suspect carried a knife while it was his two cohorts who held handguns.

When the policeman reacted upon the suspects’ declaration of a holdup, the suspects opened fire, prompting the cop to retaliate, hitting one of the suspects in the process.

Martirez is expected to be recommended for an award for his bravery.