Gas station loses ATM to robbers

MANILA, Philippines – Not content with simply taking cash from an automated teller machine (ATM), eight heavily armed men forcibly took the machine itself early yesterday.

The ATM was installed in a gasoline station along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Muntinlupa City.

Police Officer 3 Buenaventura de la Cuesta of the Muntinlupa Police Station Investigation Division said the incident occurred around 3 a.m. along the southbound lane of SLEX in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City.

De la Cuesta said the suspects were on board a white L-300 van parked near the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) ATM booth located within the Shell gasoline station premises.

He said the suspects, who were armed with long and short firearms, immediately went to the booth and started removing the ATM with a bolt cutter while their companions kept the security guards at bay.

The suspects were done in three minutes and immediately sped off.

One of the security guards, Elpidio Jungco Jr., told police investigators that since they were not issued guns and only night sticks, they were not able to do anything.

The suspects fled in the direction of Laguna.

De la Cuesta said a follow-up investigation to track down the suspects is being conducted.