MANILA, Philippines—Two security guards at the Bureau of Immigration are being investigated for the death of two people they claimed broke into the government compound in Intramuros, Manila, late Friday night, police said Saturday.
Senior Police Officer 2 Glenzor Vallejo of the Manila Police District homicide section identified the two security guards as Carlos Garcia and Eric David Ducosin.
Vallejo said the suspected thieves were still unidentified.
Vallejo said that based on the statements of the security guards, who were invited to the police station to shed light on the shooting, one of the thieves pulled out a knife and the other tried to grab Garcia’s gun when they were accosted while allegedly trying to steal a compressor at the back of the building.
The guards said they noticed the entry of the thieves when they broke the light at the west gate of the compound at around 11 p.m.
Garcia told police he was forced to fire at one of the alleged thieves when he pulled out a knife and tried to stab him. He said he also fired at the other one when he tried to grab his gun. Both men died on the spot, Vallejo said.
Vallejo said a knife was recovered near one of the dead men.
According to the guards, the two alleged thieves had also been seen passing the area several times prior to the attempted theft on Friday.