PNP: 2 of 6 behind RCBC massacre uniformed personnel
By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:58:00 05/23/2008
Filed Under: Cabuyao Massacre
MANILA, Philippines -- Two of the six gunmen responsible for what has been called the bloodiest bank robbery in years are "uniformed personnel," but authorities have yet to confirm whether they belong to the police or military, or if they are still active in the service.
Senior Superintendent Aaron Fidel, chief of Task Force RCBC, also said they have identified four of the six robbers but refused to elaborate.
The robbers struck the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) branch in Cabuyao, Laguna, last Friday, killing eight bank employees, a security guard and a client. All the victims were shot in the head.
Fidel said one of two security guards on duty the night before the incident, and who had been expected to become a witness, has been changing his statements.
In separate follow-up operations this week, police killed what they described as four suspected gang members in two shootouts in Batangas province.
However, although Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon Jr. linked those killed in Batangas to the RCBC robbery, local police said they had nothing concrete to prove this.
"As of now, we are not yet sure if they are connected, we are still waiting for the SOCO [Scene of the Crime Operatives] report," Fidel said.
Earlier, Razon said the guns recovered from the slain gang members will undergo ballistic and cross-matching examinations.
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