Two security guards and a bank teller got killed after being shot by hold-up men inside a mall in Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Saturday morning.

Security guard Felipe Cipres died on the spot while teller Rey Tingco died on the way to the hospital, Senior Supt. John Bulalacao, Cavite Provincial Police director, said in a phone interview.

Another guard, identified as Melu Quinabandal, was also brought to the hospital but expired while undergoing treatment, Bulalacao said.

The incident occurred around 10:05 a.m., while Cipres, Tingco, Quinabandal, and Eduardo Noel Malayba, liaison officer of the JMY Money Changer, were walking at the ground floor of Robinsons Place Dasmarinas.

The four were bringing P5 million cash, which they earlier withdrew from Robinson’s Bank, to the money changer inside the mall, when held up and shot by about five men.

“Itong si Malayba, he is unscathed. Accordingly ay nakabunot daw siya ng baril at nakipagpalitan ng putok sa mga holdaper,” Bulalacao said.

Despite this, members of the Dasmarinas City Police placed Malayba under investigation for his possible involvement in the heist.

“Pagkatapos ng flag ceremony, around 10 a.m., sila nag-withdraw at nung palabas na sa bangko ay sakto namang pumasok ‘yung mga holdaper… Pangalawang insidente na ito dito sa mall, same money changer, ‘yung isa ay noong May 2010 at kasama rin siya (Malayba) na nag-withdraw ng pera noon,” Bulalacao said.

“He (Malayba) is considered as a suspect for now, because of the possibility of an ‘inside job’,” the police official said, adding they are also probing the security guard assigned to the mall gate where the hold-up men entered. (John Roson)

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