Responding Manila police officers foiled a robbery try by at least 10 heavily armed men at the St. Scholastica’s College in Malate, Manila past midnight yesterday.
The suspects, who were wearing camouflage police uniforms with Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) markings, introduced themselves to the school security guards as policemen and were able to enter the campus.
Police said the suspects disarmed the four security guards.
A concerned resident who noticed the commotion inside the school campus, called the police and a SWAT team, mobile unit members and other policemen of the Manila Police District responded immediately and forced the suspects to abort the robbery.
The armed men failed to enter the school’s administration building where the cashier’s office and vault were located.
Malate police station chief Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante, said the suspects, however, took the three service firearms and cellular telephones of the guards then escaped through the gate at the back of the campus.
Theft and Robbery Section head Chief Inspector Benigno Macalindong said the MPD believe that the members of the Alvin Flores Gang were involved in the foiled school robbery.
The group is reportedly responsible for the recent robberies at the main office of the Light Railway Transit in Pasay City, at a taxi terminal in Caloocan City, the robbery at the National Food Authority office also in Caloocan City and the heist at a softdrinks warehouse in Quezon City.
Last month, the gang robbed a beverage warehouse in Sta. Mesa, Manila and carted off at least P250,000.
“The style of their operation is similar to several heists perpetrated in Metro Manila. The group is dressed in either police or SWAT uniforms during their attacks,” Macalindong said.
Police will release artist sketches of the suspects.