1 dead as LTO loses P.5-M

A security guard was killed yesterday during a robbery at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Sampaloc, Manila, which lost at least P500,000.

Case investigator SPO3 Virgo Villareal counted at least 11 stab wounds on the body of Ricardo Diaz, 35.

His body was discovered by employees who reported early for work at the LTO office located along Domingo Santiago street, Sampaloc.

LTO employees also discovered the empty vault which was forcibly opened by sawing off its steel doors. The table drawers of the employees were also opened and ransacked.

Villareal said at least two persons, who could be known to the victim, was responsible for the killing and the robbery. There are indications that the victim even had a drinking session with the suspects after several empty beer bottles and two empty bottles of rum were found on a table beside the body of the guard, Villareal said.

The guard could also have been killed while sleeping. The guard’s shotgun was not taken.

LTO-Sampaloc acting cashier Filipina Princesa said a total of P419,000 cash and checks worth at least P37,000 were taken by the suspects from the vault. – Nestor Etolle, Edu Punay