Woman dies after falling from bus during heist

MANILA, Philippines - A woman who fell from a bus during a failed robbery attempt along EDSA in Quezon City Sunday died in a hospital yesterday morning.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, confirmed that Maria Leny Bermeo, 35, of Barangay Pag-Asa, died at the Quezon City General Hospital at around 3 a.m. yesterday.

Bermeo died of head injuries after she fell from the bus and hit her head on the pavement following the failed robbery at past 3 a.m. on Sunday.

Superintendent Michael Macapagal, commander of the QCPD Station 3, said the incident was a failed robbery by “amateur robbers.”

Macapagal said six unidentified men staged the heist as the Alro Transport bus was going through EDSA’s northbound lane near Muñoz market. The robbers apparently panicked when they saw a police car near EDSA’s intersection with Fema Road.

Macapagal said it appeared that this emboldened passengers to rush to get off the bus. A commotion led to a stampede, during which Bermeo fell to the ground and hit her head on the pavement.

The robbers alighted from the bus and crossed over to the other side of EDSA, leaving behind a bladed weapon, he said. The robbers have yet to be identified.