Nine bank employees found dead one in critical condition inside the bank in Cabuyao, Laguna

Miami
May 16, 2008
Story: Nine bank employees found dead one in critical condition inside the bank in Cabuyao, Laguna

A bank robbery lead to the murder of nine bank employees and another one in critical condition occurred in Cabuyao, Laguna Friday morning.

The incident occurred inside the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporations (RCBC) bank at Barangay Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna. The bodies were found at around 9:20 am. According to Regional Director of Region 4A Regional Police Office C/Supt. Ricardo Padilla, “customers are waiting outside the bank when they wondered why their were no one approaching the door to open it at 9:00”

The customers take the initiative to call the attention of the Cabuyao Police. When the police arrived they found out that the main door at the front of the bank still close. The police forcibly open the main door in able for them to go inside.

Upon entering the bank, they saw the bodies of the victims, at that time, eight were dead already and two were still alive. The bodies were scattered on the floor. But the one that was brought to the hospital died at around 12:00 noon. Other still in critical condition.

All of the victims were shot at the head, Padilla said it seems that the suspects really made sure that all of them will be killed so that no one can testify.

The victims were identified as Roberto Castro, Branch manager; Ferdinand Antonino, teller; Benjamin Nicdao, teller; Juan Layva, janitor; Bernardo Lapaan, Commercial manager; Noel Miranda, Operation Assistant; Aguinaldo Baltazar, security guard; Teresita Umayao, and Olga Gonzales.

The injured was identified as Isagani Pastor, Relationship manager of the RCBC. He is now in critical condition at St. James Hospital. He also sustained gunshot wound on the head.


Padilla who also went at the crime scene said the incident might occurred between 6am to 8am because when they arrived at the bank the body and the blood of the victims were still fresh.

The suspects entered at the back door of the bank.

Padilla said they are looking for the two guards of the bank who are missing, “They can be involved on the incident or not. We are also looking for the possibility that the victims know the suspects that is why they were killed from the manager down to the janitor.”

Padilla added that the real motive of the incident is robbery. The money at the safety vault were missing but the amount still undetermined. The police will coordinate with bank authorities to know the exact amount.

The police recovered empty shells at the crime scene from .45 caliber, 9mm and .38 caliber.

Meanwhile, PNP Director General Avelino Razon ordered the Region 4A CALABARZON to organized a Task Force that will investigate the incident. The Region 4A organized Task Force RCBC will be composed of investigators from the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Crime Laboratory, Traffic Management Group, Laguna Police Provincial Office and Civil Security Group.

Laguna Provincial Police Office Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Felipe Rojas reported that their personnel recovered an abandoned Mitsubishi Adventure color gray with pate number XHS-341 at barangay Turbina, Calamba City at around 11:00 am.

The case still under investigation. The members of the Task Force RCBC are currently in a conference.