UPDATED: Attempted Bank Heist in Sta. Cruz Ends in Shootout

At 10:03 A.M. today, local PNP officers were alerted to a bank heist in Sta. Cruz. Two suspects were caught fleeing the scene as the police arrived and engaged in a firefight. These suspects were killed during the encounter, and no civilians or police officers were reported to have been hurt during the incident. The response was a joint effort between Chief Inspector Zeric Soriano and his men from PNP Sta. Cruz, PNP Nagcarlan, and Provincial Jail Guard Guillermo "Emong" Flores. Investigations are still ongoing to identify the two suspects and determine the amount of money recovered.

UPDATE: After the shootout had occurred, two more suspects were caught in the nearby town of Nagcarlan and at least two more are still at large. One officer was also reported injured from the altercation in Sta. Cruz. Several piles of cash were recovered from the slain and apprehended suspects, though a statement on the amount has yet to be released. The bank that was targeted by the suspects was the Sta. Cruz branch of the Philippine National Bank (PNB).