2 dead, 1 hurt in Alabang mall heist

MANILA, Philippines - Two died and another was wounded in a failed armored van robbery in the Alabang Town Center mall in Muntinlupa before noon yesterday.

Elmer Tagol of Gallantry Security Agency and suspect Venancio Pioquinto died after a brief shootout, while Tagol’s colleague, Elmo Toreda, is undergoing treatment for gunshot wounds.

The shootout prevented Pioquinto and his two companions from taking the cash. The amount and currency will not be disclosed for security reasons, said Chief Inspector Michael David, Muntinlupa police investigation chief.

The guards were supposed to deliver the money to the Czarina Foreign Exchange shop in the mall at about 11:15 a.m.

According to Chief Inspector Giovanni Martinez, head of the local police’s intelligence unit, the guards parked the van in front of the cinema area’s entrance along Alabang-Zapote Road, where Pioquinto and his colleague were already waiting.

As the vehicle door opened, Pioquinto immediately opened fire at Tagol using a .45 caliber handgun with a silencer. The suspect missed the guard, who in turn fired his shotgun thrice.

Pioquinto ran but Tagol chased him, clueless that the suspect’s armed companion was behind them, said Chief Inspector Bogart Arao, Muntinlupa police’s deputy chief for operations.

Van driver Arnulfo Nudo, who was still trembling hours after the heist, hurled invectives as investigators approached Tagol’s body. Nudo refused to be interviewed.

Several bullets and spent shells were recovered from the crime site. Pioquinto’s gun was also retrieved about a meter away from his body. The other robbers fled the scene using a motorcycle.

Witnesses said everything happened so fast they hardly saw the suspects’ faces. A woman who requested anonymity said she did not see the faces of the suspects but saw the sparks coming out of Tagol’s and Pioquinto’s guns.

Chief Inspector Jojo Saveres said the Ozamis robbery group could be responsible for the heist. He said Pioquinto is from Ozamis, and the group’s operation involves bank and armored car robberies.