Lawman, 3 others die in Laguna bus holdup

STA. ROSA, Laguna — Four people were killed and two others were wounded when a policeman traded shots with at least five robbers who held up passengers of a Batangas-bound air-conditioned bus along the South Luzon Expressway here yesterday morning.

Police identified the fatalities as PO3 Norman Corea, a member of the Roxas, Oriental Mindoro police; suspected robbers Frank Avila, 25, and Jim Garage; and passenger Elizalde Badilla, 32.

Wounded by stray bullets were Corea’s father, Jose, and passenger Aida Gorospe, 44, who was hit in the shoulder. Doctors of the Balibago Polyclinic have declared them out of danger.

Superintendent Joselito Vera Cruz, Sta. Rosa police chief, said the robbers aboard the Tritan bus with license plate DVX 890 announced the holdup near the Pacita complex.

The bus was carrying some 50 passengers.

While the robbers were divesting the passengers of their cash and valuables, Corea, who was seated in the middle row, resisted and traded shots with them. Corea, however, was hit in the chest and head and died on the spot.

Avila was identified through an identification card found in his wallet. Garage died at the Perpetual Help Hospital in Biñan where he sought treatment for his bullet wounds and where the police had tracked him down.

Passengers said their three cohorts alighted near the Mamplasan toll exit in Biñan where they had ordered bus driver, Ramon Diaz, to proceed.

Diaz then drove the bus to the Sta. Rosa exit where he sought police help.