Four men rob gas station, kill guard

ILOILO CITY , Philippines   – Only about P4,000 in cash was taken by four men who robbed a gasoline station in this city early morning yesterday, but then they killed its security guard before fleeing.

The victim was Fredirick Gumban, 39, a native of Pavia, Iloilo who was employed with Mt. Carmel Security Agency and detailed to the Petron Gasoline Station at Brgy. Quintin Salas in Jaro district of this city.

Gumban, who beside his security work also acted as the pump boy and cashier of the gas station, succumbed to a lone stab wound on the lower left portion of his chest. He was rushed to West Visayas State University Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

Police accounts claimed that the suspects, on a lone motorcycle, arrived at the gas station at around 1 a.m. The three backriders alighted while the motorcycle driver stayed and ordered Gumban to fully fill the vehicle’s tank.

Footage from the gas station’s closed circuit television (CCTV) revealed that Gumban filled gas on the motorcycle, as two of the assailants stood near him while the other two posted at a distance apparently to serve as lookouts.

Shortly later, the two men standing nearby pointed a knife at Gumban, but when the latter tried to resist one of the robbers stabbed him, although the CCTV failed to capture this attack.

One of the suspects also fired a gun but it did not hit Gumban. One of the robbers went to the cashier’s booth and took the cash, then all four quickly left the scene on their motorcycle and entered a certain subdivision.

Less than three minutes after, policemen responded and brought the victim to the hospital but it was too late for the guard to survive.

Jaro Police Station chief. Sr Insp. Joseph Euge Almaquer, said they sent flash alarms to all stations and sealed off possible exit points from the Alta Tierra Village, but these and their hot pursuit operations failed to capture the robbers. Investigators have yet to identify the robbers, although Almaquer said they already have leads.

On the other hand, City Police director Sr Supt. Marietto Valerio, said they would seek expert help to enhance the images taken from the CCTV to identify the suspects.

Based on the CCTV footage, Police Regional Police-6 director Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr. noted a number of lapses, one of which was Gumban’s multi-tasking as security guard, cashier and gasoline boy.

“I think we need to have a dialogue with companies concerned to clarify the role of their security personnel,” said Querol, adding that security guards also need to be briefed on security tips and measures that they should implement to avoid falling prey to robberies.