Malabon cop foils QC bus heist, saves passenger from stabbing

MANILA, Philippines - An off-duty policeman foiled an attempt to rob the passengers of a bus in Quezon City and saved a woman from being stabbed by one of the robbers at past midnight yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Christian Santos of the Malabon City police shot and killed one of the suspects just as he was about to hurt Gemmalyn Bergacio, 28.

The robber, identified as Liberato Magno, 21, died while trying to escape, according to Police Officer 2 Ric Pitong of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU).

He said that at around 12:20 a.m., Santos was on his way home in a Baclaran Metro Link passenger bus bound for Monumento when two men boarded the bus at the corner of EDSA and Aurora Boulevard.

The two men started robbing the passengers as the bus neared Philam Homes. They demanded that the passengers hand over their valuables.

Bergacio resisted, and Magno was allegedly about to stab her when he was shot by Santos.

Pitong said the injured robber was still able to get off the bus and walk a few meters before he fell dead, while his companion, who was wearing a white t-shirt and pants, was able to flee.

PO2 Louie Cervito, also of the QCPD-CIDU, has been tasked to handle the investigation of the incident.