Rob suspect shot dead in Manila’s port area

A suspected robber was killed while a security guard was wounded in a botched robbery attempt in Manila’s North Harbor the other day.

Police reports identified the injured security guard as Zandro Jarena, an employee of the Special Watchman and Detective Agency, a resident of Biglang Awa, Novaliches, Quezon City.

The slain suspect was identified by police as a certain Cris, 35, reportedly a drug addict and resident of the area. He died on the spot from a bullet wound in the head.

Investigation showed that Jarena spotted the suspect allegedly in the act of carting away several steel pipes from the warehouse compound of Pier 6 in Tondo at about 1:30 p.m.

Reports said the startled suspect suddenly rushed at Jarena with a steel pipe. Jarena was hit in the head and was disarmed by the suspect of his caliber .38 service revolver.

Armed with the gun, the suspect then fled on foot. Although wounded, Jarena managed to call the attention of other security guards who rushed to his aid.

Responding guards later cornered the suspect. But instead of yielding, he allegedly fired the revolver at the guards, prompting them to return fire. The suspect was killed on the spot by one of the guards identified as Prudencio Cagalcal, police said. – Mike Frialde