3 holdup suspects nabbed in Makati

Three alleged aircon bus holdupmen were arrested by the Makati police yesterday.

Southern Police District chief Senior Superintendent Jose Gutierrez Jr. identified the three suspects as Marcelo Roxas, 35, of Block 29, Lot 6, TS Cruz Subdivision, Las Piñas; Solomon Sopatan, 29, of Moonwalk Village, Las Piñas; and Bernardo Bronola, 34, of Purok Patares Daguoy, Diliman, Quezon City.

Gutierrez said the suspects were apprehended around 5:14 p.m. at a bus terminal in the Ayala Commercial Center.

He said the suspects were boarding a bus allegedly to stage another robbery.

The group has been terrorizing provincial airconditioned buses while in transit, the police said.

Confiscated from the suspects were two caliber .38 revolvers, one with serial no. 29539, 18 bullets and a pair of black gloves.

Prior to the apprehension of the three, the SPD received a tip from an informant that the notorious aircon bus holdupmen were about to stage another robbery and would board a bus at the Ayala Center terminal.

Upon receiving the information, Gutierrez directed a team of policemen from the Police Community Precinct 6 of the Makati police to go after the suspects.

Gutierrez advised all victims of highway robbery to come forward and identify the suspects detained at the Makati City police headquarters.

Meanwhile, a speeding jeep hit and killed a 58-year-old woman at an intersection in Ermita, Manila the other night. Police identified the victim as Lui—sita Mendoza, married, of 262 Maria Clara St., Caloocan City.

The driver, Felizardo Castro, 50, of 6662 Jaylo St., Makati City gave himself up to police.

Traffic investigator Senior Police Officer I Mario Jorge said the victim was crossing T.M. Kalaw street at the corner Maria Orosa Street, Ermita at about 7:40 p.m. when Castro’s speeding jeep with plate number NWS-906 hit her.

Police said the victim’s body was dragged by the suspect’s jeep a few meters before the vehicle stopped.

The suspect and some bystanders rushed the victim to the Philippine General Hospital but she later died due to multiple head and body injuries.

Castro is detained at the Western Police District Integrated Jail and charges against him are being readied. — Marvin Sy and Mike Frialde