Police identified the victim as Alberto Gumatay, of 74 DPHP Compound, 11th Avenue, Caloocan City, owner of AM General Products store located at 39 Sabalo Street, Dagat-Dagatan also in Caloocan.
Gumatay was declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital due to a gaping wound in the head and multiple stab wounds in different parts of the body.
At about 2:50 p.m. Saturday, Gumatay was reportedly busy attending to his store with his wife Angelina, when three men armed with knives and a hammer suddenly barged inside their store, police said. The suspects mauled Gumatay and hit him with a hammer several times in the head and repeatedly stabbed the victim. The robbers quickly scooped the store’s drawer of its earnings and fled to different directions leaving the victim’s stunned wife unharmed.
One of the suspects, identified as Melchor Bacsal, 23, a native of Samar, and of Basamo street, Rodriguez, Rizal, commandeered a tricycle driven by Juanito Sabado, at the corner of Dagat-Dagatan Avenue and C-4 Road, Caloocan City.
Sabado tried to resist but was also stabbed by the suspect. Sabado’s fellow drivers came to his aid and were able to apprehend Bacsal and turned him over to the police.
Sabado was rushed to the Tondo General Hospital where he is now recuperating.
Police recovered from Bacsal part of the loot amounting to P14,500 in cash.
During interrogation Bacsal told police about their hideout in Tumana, Navotas.
A team led by Inspector Romeo Onte swooped down to the area resulting in the arrest of two other suspects identified as Noel Balondo, 19, and Jerry Basada, 23, both natives of Samar.
Charges of robbery with homicide and physical injuries will be filed against the suspects.