Cop, teller killed in San Juan heist

Four armed men shot dead the teller of a moneychanger’s shop and her police escort during a robbery in San Juan City Monday night.

Senior Police Officer 1 Jimmy Bautista identified the fatalities as PO1 Anthony Ventican, 32, a resident of Olivarez South in Biñan, Laguna; and Elvie Atchaso, 35, a stay-in teller of Nikko Mart Money Changer in Ermita, Manila.

Police said Ventican was pronounced dead on arrival at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City from gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.

Police said Atchaso died while undergoing treatment for multiple gunshot wounds at around 9:20 p.m. Monday.

Crime scene investigators, headed by Senior Inspector Marilyn Lopez, recovered one Armscor .45 caliber pistol and several shells from the crime scene.

Diana Rose Sabellano, 25, single, also a stay-in teller of the Nikko Mart Money Changer, told probers that at around 7 p.m., they were in their service vehicle, a dark green Toyota Corona (PLJ-528), and about to reach the corner of Ortigas Avenue and Madison streets in Greenhills, San Juan, when four armed men on two motorcycles came from behind and started firing at them.

Sabellano said the suspects hit Ventican and Atchaso, who were both seated in front. She said she was not hit because she was in the back seat.

The victim said one of the suspects opened the front door of the vehicle, took Atchaso’s bag containing undetermined amount of money, then fled towards Ortigas Avenue through EDSA.

Police said the suspects did not take another bag, containing an estimated P800,000, which was also in the vehicle when the incident happened.

“Maybe, they (suspects) have not seen the bag that contains bigger money,” a policeman, who requested anonymity, said. Police are still investigating which group was responsible for the robbery.