Security guard slain in Batangas gas station robbery

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines—A security guard was shot dead when two men robbed a gasoline station here Thursday night, the police said.

Superintendent Nicolas Torre III, Batangas City police chief, told the Inquirer in a phone interview that the victim, Rolando Caritos, was on duty at the gas station in Barangay Soro-Soro Karsada at around 9:35 p.m. when two armed men announced a holdup.

Torre said Caritos tried to shoot the two suspects but missed. One of the robbers retaliated and shot Caritos in the chest, killing him on the spot.

The two assailants then fled on foot, carting away some P3,000 cash from the gas station.

Torre said police checkpoints were immediately set up around the village, which led to the arrest of one of the suspects, identified as Rolando Saet, 30, some 30 minutes after the incident.

Saet’s companion, identified as Arnel Viña, 30, who hid in a forest near the village, was caught four hours later, said Torre.

Police recovered a 9-mm and one pellet gun from the suspects.

Saet and Viña are now locked up at the Batangas police station, Torre said.