Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation - Incidents

Incidents

On Friday, May 16, 2008, at 9:00 am, ten people (including a security guard and a depositor) at a RCBC branch in Laguna were killed during a bank robbery. Nine of the victims died on the scene and one died later at a hospital. The victims were apparently lined up and shot in the head. The shooter(s) may have used a silencer, since no residents in the area had heard any gunshots.

Initial reports claimed that two security guards who were supposed to be on their shift were missing, leading authorities to suspect they were involved in the crime as part of an inside job. The bank's vice president, Edwin Ermita, told the Associated Press that the thieves tried to hide the body of a security guard under a tarpaulin in the rear of the bank. Two bank employees' bodies were found in the open vault. The thieves used an employee's vehicle to escape. Up to P 20 million may have been taken in the heist. Five suspects had been identified. Bank employee Isagani Pastor, the lone survivor in the incident that killed 8 RCBC employees and a depositor, died on May 18. Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights investigated the Task Force RCBC shootout in Pagaspas, Tanauan, Batangas which killed 4 men, since police investigators were still determining whether they were connected to the Cabuyao, Laguna robbery, and at least 2 law enforcers had been linked to the bloody robbery-massacre. Further, multiple murder, frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms cases were filed on May 23, with the Calamba Prosecutors Office against SPO1 Florencio Fiesta, employer of and owner of gun used by Bernabe Fiesta.

The Philippine National Police on May 30, 2008, also filed with the Biñan, Laguna Regional Trial Court, non-bailable charges of robbery and multiple murder against the 6 accused, after the prosecutor Frisco Marfil's inquest: Richard Gomolon, a former Army soldier police; RCBC security guard Joel Dela Cruz; Jesus Narvaez (all currently held by Task Force RCBC); Danilo Letoquit, who arranged the procurement of the getaway vehicle; Allan Bago, and an unidentified male who served as the lookout (all at large). 5 other suspects are being pursued and 2 suspects are also sought for their alleged involvement in other armed robberies in the region. The bank stated that the armed suspects robbed $ 206,890. The Philippine National Police (PNP) on June 11, 2008 filed with the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Laguna, multiple homicide cases against 6 more respondents: Pepito Magsino, Montano Tolentino, Eugenio Hilario, Jake Javier, Jun Alvarez and Crisanto Alvarez (heist's self-confessed lookout).

On November 20, 2008, RCBC massacre suspect, Jake Javier, single, 23, of Tanauan, Batangas, was turned over by the Commission on Human Rights (Philippines) Chairman Leila de Lima to Camp Crame's Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa, due to request for protection. The Biñan, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 24 issued the arrest warrant, and Javier announced filing a motion for transfer to the Custodial Center in Camp Crame.