Shooting incidents in 2 Robinsons malls in metro

MANILA, Philippines – Separate shooting incidents in two more malls took place Wednesday although no one was reported hurt, police and witnesses said.

The shooting took place at the Robinsons branches in Quezon City and Manila.

A mall security guard shot it out with a gun-wielding motorist he accosted at Robinsons Magnolia mall while one was almost run over when he tried to stop the suspect at the Robinsons Place in Ermita. Nobody was wounded in both shootings.

Citing initial reports, Superintendent Ronnie Montejo, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Cubao station commander, said that the incident at Robinsons Magnolia started at around 3 p.m. at the parking area at the corner of Aurora Boulevard and Doña Hemady Avenue in New Manila.

A guard of the Genghis Khan security services identified only by the surname “Sobrepeña,” who is assigned at the mall, accosted the driver of a Mitsubishi Adventure (XMX-594) as it was driving out of the basement parking area.

Montejo said it was not yet clear why the security guard flagged down the SUV but the driver of the vehicle had been irked and allegedly started shooting at Sobrepeña, who fired back using his shotgun. The retaliation prompted the armed motorist to flee.

After the SUV sped away from the scene, it crashed into a taxi (TXY-941) at the corner of Aurora Boulevard and N. Domingo Street in San Juan City. The driver of the SUV abandoned the vehicle, completing his escape on foot.

Montejo said that they were trying to identify the driver of the SUV and looking into the possibility that the abandoned vehicle had been previously reported stolen.

The station commander added that they were also verifying a report that the driver of the Mitsubishi Adventure was accosted by the mall security guard for stealing the spare tire off a Ford Ranger parked at the basement parking.

Meanwhile, witnesses at the Robinsons Place said the mall guard fired at a vehicle that attempted to run him over.

Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante of the Manila Police District Station 5 said two shots were fired from an M16 rifle by Security Guard Ramil Gudoy between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

But Gudoy, who had a heated argument with a cab driver, claimed that the shooting was an accident and that he had no intention of shooting anyone.

Quirante said they were studying filing of possible Alarms and Scandal Case against Gudoy and for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Dolly Bufy, Robinsons regional operations manager, said they were investigating the matter but assured the public that the it was now business as usual inside the mall.

Last Saturday night, a shooting was reported at the SM Megamall where robbers broke into a jewelry store using tools they bought in a hardware store inside the complex.