Robbers take P3 M in bank shootout

MANILA, Philippines - A firefight ensued yesterday afternoon between responding policemen and armed men who robbed a bank along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

The robbers managed to take P3 million from the teller but failed to open the bank vault, which had a time delay lock, said Superintendent Nestor Abalos, intelligence division head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

The robbers barged into the bank just as it was about to close for the day at 4 p.m., “leaving the four security guards no time to react,” Abalos said. Witnesses said there were no more than seven robbers, all carrying long firearms, he added.

Abalos said Station 6 police officers on patrol spotted the fleeing robbers and engaged them in a brief shootout. The robbers left in a Toyota Revo.

A security guard in the area said two bystanders were reportedly hit by stray bullets and brought to the New Era Hospital.  –  With Paolo Romero