MANILA, Philippines—A barangay watchman was killed while two others were wounded when two armed men robbing a temple in Quezon City opened fire on them just after 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
One of the thieves identified only as Bryan was later shot dead by policemen who arrested his accomplice, Freddie Rey. Recovered from them were a .380-cal revolver, a .45-cal pistol, pliers, bags, cash and a pair of earrings worth P50,000.
Barangay public safety officers Salvador Nagtalon, Ambrisio Dalangin and Percy Parucho were on their way to the second floor of the three-story Southern Fragrance Inc. temple on Don Manuel Street in Barangay Sto. Domingo when they were gunned down. Nagtalon was killed while his companions were wounded.
“It seems the [victims] mistakenly thought that the robbers were gone as it was almost daylight,” Quezon City Police District Station 1 commander Supt. Dionisio Bartolome said.
The three barangay watchmen had gone to the temple after one of its employees sent a text message asking for help to a relative who in turn alerted barangay officials.
According to the police, the two robbers entered the temple at 5 a.m. They tied up 83-year-old caretaker Yu Sieusoy and his family on the second floor and had started to ransack the place when the victims arrived.
The robbers continued shooting as they fled, prompting other barangay personnel to call the police for help.
A chase ensued, ending when policemen caught Rey while Bryan was cornered in a nearby alley. Instead of surrendering, however, he shot at his pursuers who returned fire, killing him, Bartolome said.