Trader who fought back at robbers shot to death

CEBU, Philippines – A trader who first gave in to the demands of two motorcycle-riding holduppers but who later grabbed the man riding in pillion was shot dead in barangay Tabok, Mandaue City last Monday night.

Forty-six-year-old Antonio Sanchez (not the city engineer) was said to be 150 meters away from his house in Palm Heights Subdivision in Tabok when he was robbed of his P10,000 cash by two men at around 9 the other night.

SPO1 Arnulfo Quiachon, Jr. of the Investigation and Detection Management Bureau said that the victim was driving his car with plate number YFX-437 with his four minor children. But just as he was negotiating a narrow road approximately 150 meters away from their house, the robbers blocked his way, aimed a .45 caliber pistol at him, and announced a holdup.

The perpetrators then ordered him to disembark from his car and asked for his wallet containing P10,000 cash.

Quiachon said that after the robbers got hold of the money, they left Sanchez. But just as the holduppers were about to leave the place, the victim grabbed the man riding in pillion, throwing him off the motorcycle and onto the pavement.

This prompted the driver of the motorcycle to shoot him several times.

Bystanders in the area claimed they heard gun bursts and later saw the victim slumped on the pavement. They were about to rush to the scene but the driver aimed a gun at them as the two hurriedly left the area.

Witnesses said that though the victim sustained gunshot wounds on the head, the nape and the chest, he still managed to shout for help. He was rushed to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center but was later transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital where he expired at 10:36 p.m.

Quiachon said that Sanchez and his children were from Consolacion town after he attended to the family-owned business - the Kanrizans Enterprises – there.

It was also learned that his wife and helpers were onboard a separate vehicle and were the ones to have arrived at the house first so that they got no idea of the incident until they learned of the commotion outside. – Flor Z. Perolina/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)