The extant gun ban notwithstanding, criminal activity continues to occur in the metropolis – in some cases resulting in security personnel dying in the line of duty, whether having successfully repelled or deterred said criminal activity or not.
Such was the case in Lipa City, Batangas, early Tuesday morning. Jason Saralde, a security guard assigned to the Garanda Inn located along V. Morada Street, died when armed men robbed the inn and absconded with at least PhP10,000. Additionally, two employees, cashier Bryan Roxas and roomboy Henel Roxas, are currently in critical condition after having been shot in the head and neck.
Lipa City police chief Superintendent Christopher Birung, who had identified the fatality, also said that the police rushed to the scene after a tricycle driver reported the incident. They were able to recover three empty slugs from a 9-mm pistol at the crime scene. The police are currently in hot pursuit of the suspects.
UPDATE (February 20, 2013): Bryan Roxas and Henel Roxas died while undergoing emergency surgery at Mary Mediatrix Hospital in Lipa.
Investigators have learned that prior to the robbery, Bryan Roxas had previously argued with a customer who had offered to give him a gun in lieu of cash as payment for a room, and are exploring this angle.
