Call center agent slain in bus heist

MANILA, Philippines - Bus robbers in Pasay City shot a 27-year-old call center agent who refused to give up his money yesterday morning, police said.

Ranel Villa died while undergoing treatment at Olivarez Medical Center in Parañaque City. He is one of eight passengers on board an AC Bus Transit unit (PVP-185) when two men declared a heist along Roxas Boulevard about 9:29 a.m.

Senior Superintendent Nestor Pastoral, Parañaque city police chief, said the robbers boarded the bus along Malibay, Pasay and occupied the front and back seats. The robbers demanded that the driver take the vehicle to Kabihasnan, Parañaque while looting the victims.

When Villa resisted, the robber at the back of the bus shot him near his left armpit. Pastoral said the victim bled from Roxas Boulevard to Kabihasnan – a drive of roughly 20 minutes.

Villa’s family has yet to claim his body, said Pastoral.

Authorities are now tracking down the robbers after one of them was identified by witnesses through the police’s rogue’s gallery.