Bank employee killed as robbers fire at cops

PULILAN, Bulacan – A bank employee was killed and a policeman tagged as the leader of a robbery gang was wounded when the robbers shot it out with operatives of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) here yesterday.

Authorities said Nestor Esguerra, an employee of the Sandigan Savings Bank here, could have been hit in the crossfire when the robbers belonging to the “Pajero gang” tried to commandeer his Mitsubishi Lancer as they tried to escape.

The suspected gang leader, PO2 Rommel Lim, a Taguig City policeman on absence without official leave (AWOL), was wounded in the running gunbattle with the agents of the TMG-National Capitol Region. He was brought to Camp Olivas in Pampanga for tactical interrogation.

Police said the TMG agents tailed Lim’s group after getting information that it was about to rob a Metrobank branch here.

But sensing that they were being followed, Lim and his three cohorts, who were riding a Toyota Corolla, fired at the TMG operatives in Barangay Sto. Cristo here.

The robbers got off their car and tried to commandeer Esguerra’s vehicle.

Former Bulacan vice governor Aurelio Plamenco said he was just across the street when the incident happened. He said he saw Esguerra get off his car with his hands raised, and that moments later, he was lifeless on the pavement with a bullet wound in the neck.

Plamenco said Esguerra could have been hit in the crossfire between the TMG agents and Lim’s group.

Police said Lim tried to seek medical attention in the nearby F.F. Cruz Hospital where he was arrested. A manhunt is on for his three cohorts. – Dino Balabo, Ric Sapnu and Cecille Suerte Felipe