Stores lockdown as 'Martilyo Gang' hits SM MOA

MANILA, Philippines – Shoppers at the SM Mall of Asia panicked as a robbery group famously called the "Martilyo Gang" fired a gun inside the department store on Sunday night.

Steven Tan, senior vice president for mall operations, said member of the gang hit a jewelry counter at the mall's The SM Store at around 7:14 p.m.

"At 7:14pm this evening the martilyo gang had struck a jewelry counter at The SM Store in MOA. The police are already present in the area to conduct a thorough investigation. The mall is working closely with the pnp to resolve this," Tan said in a statement posted on SM's Twitter account.

Responding policemen have arrested one of the suspects. The law enforcers have cordoned off the mall area as of this posting.

Philstar.com was informed of the incident by one of the mall's employees at around 7:50 p.m.

The gunshot heard at the mall prompted the stores within the mall to go on lockdown, trapping shoppers inside.

Tan said in an update through Twitter that the situation at the mall was contained by the police at past 9 p.m.

He reported that an employee of outdoor Kiosk Spike's, suffered a slight gunshot wound. The employee has been declared out of danger.

"The mall is now currently back to normal operations," Tan said.

He said the incident was immediately contained because of the police's quick response.

"When the Martilyo Gang incident happened the response of the PNP was quick and they were able to apprehend a suspect who is now under their custody," he added.

People are trapped inside!@ANCALERTS #moa incident pic.twitter.com/EZZ3Q9sr6Z

— Jonathan E. Guban (@slaytan30) March 30, 2014

Hiding inside the stock room; gunshots were fired just minutes ago here inside MOA department store pic.twitter.com/4uNML5kb6g

— Theresa (@tracyaguila) March 30, 2014

Now happening, MOA shoot out, hostages taken, friends trapped in locked down boutiques.

— Tyler Austria (@TYLR_austria) March 30, 2014

scene inside Mango at MOA. #lockdown pic.twitter.com/kIgbAFZOKc

— Tyler Austria (@TYLR_austria) March 30, 2014

The gang's members had struck other SM malls last year, also targeting jewelry stores. The group is called "Martilyo Gang" as its members use newly-purchased hammers from the mall's hardware store during their heists.

Members of the gang would fire guns to cause panic among shoppers, which they will use as cover for their escape.