Armored van robbed in Las Piñas; 2 hurt

Two people were injured after motorcycle-riding gunmen robbed of nearly P1 million an armored van parked in front of a convenience store in Barangay CAA, Las Piñas City shortly before noon yesterday.

Police officer Ernesto Bautista identified the victims as Ruel Mato, the security guard of the Shell gas station adjacent to the convenience store; and bank teller Joseph Nietos.

Initial investigation showed that around 11:45 a.m., Banco de Oro personnel were collecting money from the Select convenience store on J. Aguilar Avenue when the unidentified robbers showed up, pretending to be customers.

The suspects announced a robbery, ordered Mato and Nietos to lie on the floor, and shot them. They then took the P800,000 cash from the armored van and escaped.

The victims were brought to the Las Pinas Doctor’s Hospital, where they are still under observation.

Bautista said empty shells from a .45 caliber revolver, caliber 8-millimeter handgun and M-16 rifle were recovered at the scene.

The suspects used two motorcycles and a white Toyota Corolla (TAJ-2770) which was later recovered on Liwanag street in Barangay CAA, Las Piñas.

Las Piñas police chief Senior Superintendent Amando Empiso said they have installed checkpoints around the city in order to catch the suspects.

Senior Inspector Jandale Sulit, who heads the Las Piñas police’s investigation section, said they are conducting follow-up investigation to determine which group is responsible for the heist. – Rhodina Villanueva