5 dead, 3 hurt in Cebu armored van robbery try

(Updated 6:49 p.m.) Five people were killed while three others were injured in an attempted armored van robbery in Cebu City Monday morning, reports said. Senior Superintendent Melvin Buenafe, director of Cebu City Police Office, said three of the fatalities were suspected members of the Ozamiz robbery gang who died after engaging responding police in a firefight, while the other one was a security escort. "Nakikipaglaban sa mga pulis natin, namatay yung tatlong suspek, yung isang suspek dinala pa sa ospital, buhay pa kanina, pero nag-expire din on the way. Na-recover po natin yung armas saka yung bag na kinuha nila dun sa teller na hinoldap nila," said Buenafe in a phone interview. A report on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas" said another security escort succumbed in the hospital where he was rushed after being shot by the suspects. A report by radio dzBB's Cebu affiliate said one of the slain suspects was initially identified as Danilo Dapitan, who was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
The radio report identified one of the slain security escorts as Ruther Bitac. Two policemen who responded to the incident — identified only as PO1 Catacutan and PO1 Ceniza — were shot at and wounded. PO1 Catacutan had to undergo surgery, a police report said. Initial investigation showed the incident occurred at 9 a.m., when the suspects attempted to rob the armored van owned by China Bank at the Robinson's Place mall. At the time, the van was to deliver money to a money changer shop inside the mall. "May bitbit na pera [yung teller] galing armored van, ide-deliver galing sa money changer, merong nag-abang dun sa loob nitong Robinson's Mall na holdaper and nagkaroon ng putukan," Buenafe narrated. "Hinabol ng mga pulis natin, merong binaril yung mga suspek, binaril nila yung guard doon sa loob saka yung nagdadala nung pera, yung teller ng China Bank tapos yung isang guwardiyang nagguguwardiya dun sa may armored van binaril nila, patay," he added. - KBK, GMA News