Cashier killed as water gun-wielding thieves rob gas station

MANILA, Philippines—A 33-year-old cashier was stabbed dead early Thursday when he tried to stop three thieves, who were armed with knives and a water gun, from making off with the cash box of a gasoline station in Tondo, Manila, the police said.

One of the thieves allegedly used the squirt gun, loaded with an unknown liquid, to temporarily blind one of the gas station employees, allowing the assailants to flee with the cash box containing a still undetermined amount of money.

Police said Silverio Barbin Jr, cashier of the Shell Gasoline Station along Road 10, Vitas in Tondo, sustained at least four stab wounds in the head and body. He was declared dead on arrival at the Mary Johnston Hospital.

Senior Police Officer 2 Glenzor Vallejo, of the Manila Police District homicide section, said Barbin was cleaning the cashier’s booth of the gas station at around 3 a.m. Thursday when the three men brandishing knives approached him and announced a hold-up

Vallejo said Barbin tried to fight off the thieves, prompting one of them to repeatedly stab him. The trio then ransacked the booth and hurried to get away.

Gasoline boy Rodrigo Isod, 41, tried to stop the escape but one of the thieves drew the water gun and squirted at his eyes, temporarily blinding him. The thieves then fled on foot with the cash box, Vallejo said.