Accountant, cop hurt in Makati heist

An accountant and a police officer were hurt in a robbery at a pedestrian underpass in Makati City’s central business district yesterday afternoon.

Francisco Balagot of National Insurance was reported to be in critical condition at the Makati Medical Center while Police Officer 1 Benito Alba, who tried to arrest the suspects with the help of a security guard, suffered a broken leg when the robbers tried to wrestle him into letting them go.

Two of the four robbers were eventually arrested when more police officers arrived to back Alba up, but the other two escaped.

Makati City police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said the robbery took place at the underpass at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue at around 2:46 p.m.

Balagot was allegedly going through the well-lit pedestrian walkway when he was suddenly attacked and stabbed in the chest.

The police have yet to reveal the names of the suspects and are conducting a follow-up operation to catch the two robbers who escaped.

Superintendent Manny Santos, the Makati police’s criminal investigation division, said a 12-inch ice pick was recovered from the two arrested suspects.