Guard killed in San Juan heist

MANILA, Philippines - A security guard was killed and an employee was hurt during a robbery at the Agora Market in San Juan City Monday.

Police said Florante Cepeda, 31, was shot in the stomach when he tried to stop the robbers at about 9:30 a.m.

Cepeda was declared dead on arrival at the San Juan Medical Center. Rosalyn Lopez, 25, an employee of Bellagio Holdings, was taken to the same hospital for treatment.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Ariel Arcinas said the security guard was escorting Lopez while she was collecting stall rental payments from market tenants when one of the suspects announced a holdup.

At gunpoint, the suspect ordered Lopez to yield her bag. But Cepeda tried to fight back, prompting the suspect to shoot him.

The gunman escaped after grabbing the bag of Lopez containing P100,000 in cash. Police said the other suspect served as a lookout.

Arcinas has formed a team to go after the suspects.