Charges filed vs 2 men in foiled heist near Naia

Following a chase and a firefight, authorities arrested two armed men who robbed a trading company near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) complex in Parañaque City on Friday afternoon.

Rouel Calleja and Josh Palicar now face charges of frustrated homicide, car theft, illegal possession of firearms and robbery-holdup for stealing around P100,000 in cash from Berland Company International at 9756 Felicidad Street, Gatchalian Compound in Barangay Vitalez. The firm is situated between Naia Terminals 1 and 2.

Southern Police District director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte said that two of the company’s employees—Lenny Agbayani and Hernani Agonia—had just arrived at the office in a van at 1:45 p.m. when they were accosted by six armed men.

The robbers grabbed the bags carried by the victims which contained P96,000, $205 and HK$300, among other currencies, but they were spotted by a security guard from a nearby office, Sonny Narvales, who fired at them. Narvales hit Calleja although he was also wounded in the encounter.

The gunfire spooked the other armed men who fled on their motorcycles save for Calleja and Palicar who ran toward Naia Terminal 2.

At this point, guards at Berland International called up the police and asked for help. They were also joined by operatives of the Airport Police Department (APD).

The pair tried to commandeer a taxi cab but the driver did not stop, prompting one of the robbers to shoot at it. Fortunately, he missed. They next attempted to board a bus at the loading area on MIA Road but the alert driver closed the door of the vehicle. The caused the robbers to fire at the bus door.

They then took over a yellow airport taxi cab after they forced the driver to get out of the vehicle. But as they drove on MIA Road, their path was blocked by an APD service vehicle which was posted near a gas station.

Undeterred, the robbers got into another taxi and ordered the driver to head toward Domestic Road where they were forced to give up after they were surrounded by a police team. Recovered from the pair were the stolen money and their firearms.

Calleja was brought to San Juan de Dios Hospital for treatment. Palicar, on the other hand, was placed under the custody of the Parañaque police.