Bank guard killed in gun accident

MANILA, Philippines—A security guard died of a gunshot wound after his loaded service revolver fired when it accidentally fell on the floor inside a bank in Quezon City on Saturday.

Nonito Rostique, 32, an employee of the Matrix Corporate Security and General Services, of Novaliches, died some two hours after the accident while undergoing treatment at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center for a bullet wound in the right side of the chest.

PO3 Erickson Isidro, of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said the incident happened at around 2 p.m. Saturday inside the Banco De Oro Cash Hub at the corner of Aurora Boulevard and Notre Dame Street, Barangay (village) Silangan in Cubao.

Isidro said that before the incident Rostique had been standing outside a comfort room talking with his co-worker Robert Baruelo, who was then relieving himself.

Baruelo, according to the case investigator, suddenly heard a loud thud followed by gunfire just outside the restroom. When the security guard hurriedly fixed himself up to investigate, he found Rostique on his knees bleeding from a wound in the chest, his service revolver on the floor beside him.

The witness immediately sought the help of their other co-workers in bringing Rostique to the nearest hospital. But the security guard was declared dead at around 4 p.m. by the attending doctors.

The case investigator said the security guards turned over Rostique’s .38 cal. revolver for proper disposition.