Lawmaker’s gas station robbed

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Robbers carted away more than P300,000 in cash from a gasoline station owned by Surigao del Norte Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr. in this city Thursday night.

A report from the city police said the robbers arrived at the gasoline station located in Barangay Baan at around 10 p.m. and poked a gun at the cashier.

The robbery was reported by security guard Max Ibay, who told police that he could not respond to the incident as his service firearm malfunctioned.

Ibay said he saw one of the robbers running toward a waiting motorcycle driven by a companion, but he could not fire his shotgun.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Romy Palgue identified one of the suspects as Christopher Magallanes, 28, a former employee of the gasoline station.

The suspect was identified through the description of the cashier.

Magallanes was arrested in a follow up operation while a manhunt has been launched for his companion.