Two security guards were killed and four persons wounded in a daring robbery-holdup staged by six unidentified suspects in a pawnshop in Koronadal City Thursday noon. Ssix armed men aboard three motorcycles stormed the Agencia Brillantes pawnshop located on a busy section of the city’s main commercial district at around 12:30 p.m. The pawnshop is adjacent to two shopping malls. Upon arrival, the suspects gunned down the pawnshop’s security guard identified as Joan Lazaga and held its employees at gunpoint. The suspects then took an undetermined amount of cash and assorted jewelry from the establishment. While fleeing the scene, the gunmen shot pawnshop employee Noel Billora and two other responding security guards — Arlon Tamayo and Alfredo Pagarigan — of nearby establishments. Two other persons were hit by stray bullets during a brief shootout with responding policemen. The suspects, who were last seen proceeding towards the direction of Lutayan town in Sultan Kudarat, also hurled a grenade infront of the pawnshop but it did not explode. It was later detonated by responding personnel from the explosives ordnance disposal unit. Lazaga and Tamayo, who were assigned at the side entrance of Ace Centerpoint mall, were declared dead upon arrival at the South Cotabato provincial hospital. The four other injured victims, who sustained gunshot wounds on their legs and arms, are still being treated at the hospital’s emergency room. Koronadal City Mayor Peter Miguel said one of the suspects, who was identified as Jonel Elchico, has been arrested by joint police operatives at a sitio in Barangay Caloocan of Koronadal City. The mayor said the city government has put up an initial P50,000 reward for any information to help authorities identify the suspects and their whereabouts.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 02:53:12 +0000