A bank client who said she was stabbed, detained and also robbed of cash last month, yesterday sought P1 million in damages from the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company in Silay City, allegedly for the negligence of their guards to protect her.

Complainant Ma. Nieves Javellana said she was a victim of robbery at gunpoint by a suspect at the Metrobank- Silay Branch parking lot on April 11.

In her affidavit-complaint, Javellana said several persons, appearing to be security guards of Metrobank, responded to the commotion inside her vehicle, but they failed to verify the situation thoroughly after the suspect told them not to interfere, saying it was a quarrel between a husband and wife.

"The security guards of the Metrobank failed to respond in a prudent and responsible manner. They did not even call the police to report that a crime was taking place in their premises", Javellana said.

Javellana said she was robbed at knife-point by a suspect who divested her of P1,000 in cash and a Nokia 6610 cellphone, valued at P10,000. She was also held by the suspect in a vehicle for about 30 minutes, before she was freed, she said.

She described the suspect as one in his late 30's, dark-skinned, medium in build, about 5 feet and 5 inches tall, with straight hair and deep-set eyes, and Tagalog-speaking.

Javellana, said she was treated for several days at the Riverside Medical Center.

The Metrobank Silay Branch could not be reached for comment as of last night.

Javellana said she wrote a letter to Ninfa Alisla, Metrobank Silay Branch manager, on April 16 demanding a definite and tangible response to her ordeal. She said Metrobak responded three days after with a general statement that "the bank will seriously look into this case, especially on the points you have mentioned, so that we can avoid similar situations in the future," without an apology for her harrowing and painful ordeal.

She said she has not heard of their so-called investigations, or any effort to answer for the damage she had suffered for their negligent acts until now, Javellana said.

She is seeking P500,000 in moral damages, P400,000 in exemplary damages and P100,000 in actual damages and attorney's fees.*GPB

back to top