2 robbers torch condo unit, escape police cordon in Paranaque; Resident dies from suffocation

From gmanetwork.com:
February 2, 2016 11:50am

Two armed robbers escaped after setting fire to one of the units of a condominium compound in Parañaque City on Tuesday morning.

Senior Superintendent Ariel Andrade, chief of the Parañaque City police, said that a resident of the Kassel Residences identified as Rolinaina Aclon died from suffocation.

Andrade said that he has ordered an investigation whether the victim died from suffocation caused by the smoke from the fire started by the robbers or the tear gas thrown by responding policemen.

A radio dzBB report said that the robbery at Unit 403 of the condo compound’s Berlin Building was discovered after the armed robbers shot and injured roving security guard John Daragana.

The condo compound’s security group immediately sought police assistance.

Policemen were deployed at the condo compound and surrounded the building, but the two armed robbers were still able to escape.

The report said that the two robbers set fire to the condominium unit to create a diversion.

A report on GMA’s News To Go said that at least eight gunshots were heard during the police’s clearing operation.

It took the police at least 11 hours to clear the condo building, the radio dzBB report said.

Residents who were earlier asked to evacuate were able to return to their units before 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Police have yet to determine if the robbers were able to take anything from the condominium unit. Investigations are ongoing.

Andrade, meanwhile, said that he has also ordered an investigation to determine if lapses were committed by the responding policemen.

He said that based on the police’s standard operating procedure, policemen can only move in to a residential area only after it has been cleared of civilians. —ALG, GMA News
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