Bank teller, guard killed in Cavite mall heist

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Philippines – A bank teller and a security guard were killed while another security guard was wounded in a robbery inside a mall in Dasmariñas City in Cavite on Saturday.

Security guard Felipe Cipres died on the spot while Rey Tingco, a teller of the Robinson’s Bank inside the Robinson’s Place in Barangay (village) Pala-pala, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds, Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao, Cavite police director, said in a text message.

Another bank security guard, Melu Quinabandal, who was also wounded when the security guards exchanged shots with the armed robbers, remained in the hospital, he said.

Bulalacao said an initial report from the Dasmariñas police said the teller, escorted by two security guards, was carrying P5 million to the JMY money changer shop, also inside the mall, when attacked by a group of five armed robbers at around 10 a.m.

Bulalacao said the victims were with a certain Eduardo Noel Malayba, the liaison officer of JMY money changer, when robbed, but he did not say if Malayba was also hurt in the gunfight between the robbers and the security guards.

The police have yet to confirm if the robbers were able to take the money but said some of them were believed to be wounded because of the bloodstains on their escape route.

No other details were immediately available as of posting time.