A BANK teller and two security escorts were killed by five pistol-wielding men who also carted away a bag loaded with P5 million cash in a robbery-holdup at the ground floor of a mall in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, on Saturday morning.

Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. John Bulalacao said the robbery took place at about 10:05 in the morning inside the Robinsons Place at the Palapala area in Barangay Sampaloc.

A police report said security escort Felipe Cipres, who shot it out with robbers, died on the spot. The bank teller, Rey Tingco, and another security escort, Melu Quinabandal, were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment but Tingco was declared dead on arrival. Quinabandal died later while undergoing medical treatment,” Bulalacao said.

All the victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds from caliber .45 pistols.

Bulalacao said some the suspects were also wounded as indicated by the drops of blood on their escape route.

Based on the results of initial investigation, he said the victims were with Eduardo Noel Malayba, liaison officer of the JMY Money Changer, walking toward the said establishment after withdrawing cash from the bank located inside the mall when the suspects appeared from different directions.

He said the suspects immediately opened fire on the victims that sent the mall into pandemonium.

(Zaff Solmerin)