The Metro Manila Development Authority reported of an “on going robbery hold-up at Metropoint Mall Pasay,” on Thursday afternoon in its official Twitter account.
Based on the initial investigation, Southern Police District director Supt. Benito Estipona disclosed that four suspects, said to be members of the “Martilyo Gang,” robbed the Tambunting pawnshop at the said mall at around 3 p.m.
The cash or jewelries taken away by the suspects have not been accounted yet, according to various reports.
It was said that mall security guards tried to chase the suspects, but said suspects fired gunshots on air while inside the mall in an attempt to cause panic and cover their escape.
According to Atty. Hernando Cabrera, the spokesman of Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the gunshots coming from the mall have caused panic, as well as have scared the passengers who were at that time entering the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
In his Twitter account, Cabrera said that while the shooting incident was not in the MRT-3 Taft Station, it has affected “passenger mobility in the area.”
The operation of MRT-3 was temporarily suspended, he said. Closed as well was the connecting bridge to the Metropoint Mall. But both were later reopened.
The LRT-1 Edsa Station, however, according to Cabrera remains “secured and operating.”
Police reports also said that they have instructed the mall employees to leave the area and eventually cordoned off the mall. They are now undergoing clearing operations, deploying one SWAT team at the mall.
Latest report from the ABS-CBNnews.com said police pursued the suspects, but they escaped.
