US Embassy cop slain in bus holdup

A policeman assigned to the US Embassy’s security unit shot it out but was overpowered by seven holdup men on board a southbound Baliwag Transit bus along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Guiguinto, Bulacan early yesterday morning.

Superintendent Billy Beltran, Valenzuela City police chief, identified the victim as PO2 Joel Magbanua, 34, a resident of Morning Tones, Pasay City and detailed in the Security and Protection Office of the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

Magbanua was initially unidentified until his colleagues at the US Embassy, upon hearing a radio report mentioning that the victim had a "Magbanua" nameplate, went to the Valenzuela Funeral Homes, where his body was taken for autopsy, past noon yesterday and positively identified him.

Probers found two spent shells from a 9-mm pistol inside the Baliwag Transit bus. They also recovered Magbanua’s backpack containing his nameplate, a PNP necktie pin, assorted keys, a cellphone pouch, and a black inside holster for his 9-mm service firearm, which was reported missing.

SPO4 Henry Marteja, officer-on-case, said Magbanua had 13 stab wounds and two gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.

Investigation showed that the Cubao-bound bus (with license plate CVC-785), with 16 passengers on board, including the seven holdup men, was cruising the NLEX in Barangay Burol in Guiguinto, Bulacan when the incident happened at about 4:30 a.m. yesterday.

The holdup men, armed with handguns and bladed weapons, began divesting the passengers of their cash, cellphones, wallets and other valuables.

Before he could be frisked, Magbanua pulled out his 9-mm pistol and fired, hitting one of the holdup men in the abdomen.

This prompted the other holdup men to gang up on him, shooting and stabbing him repeatedly.

Upon reaching Barangay Lawa in Meycauayan, Bulacan, the holdup men ordered bus driver Jeffer Yandoc to stop. Bringing along their wounded companion, they fled toward Barangay Libtong in Meycauayan. — With James Mananghaya