3 dead in P3.1-M Caloocan heist

MANILA, Philippines - The treasurer of Barangay 176 in Bagong Silang and two of her staff were gunned down in an ambush by five motorcycle-riding men who took P3.1 million the victims had just withdrawn from a bank in Caloocan City yesterday.

Police said Rodora Gomito, who was seven months pregnant, died on the spot. Doctors were unable to save her unborn child. Driver Jaime Mendoza and staff member Donna Megallo were declared dead on arrival at the Nodado Medical Center.

The victims had just withdrawn P3.1 million from a Land Bank of the Philippines branch along Samson Road and were on their way back to the barangay in a black Isuzu Highlander when five men on three motorcycles blocked their path and shot at them repeatedly. The attack occurred in the Citation Homes Subdivision in Barangay Bahay Pari at the boundary of Meycauayan, Bulacan and Caloocan City at around 11 a.m.

The gunmen fled with the money, which was intended to cover the expenses and salaries of Barangay 176 officials and personnel.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri condemned the killings and offered a P100,000 reward to anyone who could help locate and arrest the suspects. “We are appealing to witnesses of the crime to surface in order to help law enforcers serve justice to the victims,” he said.

Soriano said witnesses told also observed a red sedan near the crime scene but it disappeared after the incident.

“The Caloocan City police are conducting a parallel investigation with our counterparts in Bulacan to have a closer look into the case,” he told The STAR.

Soriano said investigators are not ruling out that the rob-slay was an “inside job” because the robbers knew exactly where to intercept the victims’ vehicle.

The police are also investigating why the victims took the Bulacan route via North Luzon Expressway instead of using the inner roads to return to Barangay 176.