Woman grabs robber's gun, thwarts holdup: Gun went off during scuffle, hitting gas station owner

CEBU, Philippines -  A 30-year-old woman foiled three men’s attempt to rob their gasoline station yesterday in Barangay Campo 7, Minglanilla, southern Cebu.

Loleng Pacalina grabbed the gun of the man who declared a hold up and held on tightly to it, leading to a scuffle with the robber.

The trigger was pulled and a bullet hit the store owner, 71-year-old Lucila Avila, in the pelvis. She was taken to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

SPO1 Rolando Bastida, Minglanilla police investigator, narrated that the incident started with three persons arriving onboard a red XRM motorcycle. They asked for a liter of gasoline.

One of the men disembarked and took the item from Pacalina. But as he headed back to the store supposedly to return the empty container, he pulled out a caliber .45 pistol and declared a hold up.

Pacalina shouted at Lucila to hand in their money, which distracted the robber and gave Pacalina an opportunity to grab the gun. A scuffle ensued between Pacalina and the gunman until the gun went off, hitting Lucila.

Bastida said the gunman ran to where the motorcycle was parked and sped off towards Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

Pacalina tried to fire another shot but the magazine fell.No cash was taken from the victims.

Avila’s husband immediately attended to his wife and took her to the hospital.

Police are still investigating the case in coordination with the Talisay City Police Station. — /JPM (FREEMAN)