Robbers kill resto messenger

The messenger of well-known restaurateur Larry Cruz was killed and robbed of at least P500,000 by three motorcycle-riding men yesterday morning along a busy intersection in Ermita, Manila.

Police said Antonio Jeramos, 56, a messenger of Lorenzo Cruz Group of Restaurants owned by Larry Cruz, succumbed to a gunshot wound in the left side of his body. At least P500,000 in cash, representing the three-day earnings of Cruz’s restaurants which include Cafe Adriatico, Cafe Havana, Bistro Remedios, In The Mood and Mil Nueve Syentos, were reportedly taken by the robbers.

Investigation conducted by PO3 Paul Dennis Javier showed Jeramos’ duties include the morning collection of the earnings of Cruz’s restaurants which he then deposits in a bank.

At about 9:30 a.m. yesterday, Jeramos was on his way to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank at the Royal Twin Towers in Remedios street to deposit his collections when he was waylaid by the two suspects at the corner of Jorge Bocobo street. A third suspect was waiting on board a motorcycle, according to a witness.

At gunpoint, the two suspects tried to divest Jeramos of his belt bag, which reportedly contained the cash collections. Jeramos resisted and two shots rang out, according to the witness. As the victim lay bloodied on the pavement, the two suspects took his belt bag and joined their companion in escaping aboard the motorcycle.

Passersby hailed a passing taxicab which rushed the victim to the Ospital ng Maynila where he expired while undergoing treatment.

Police recovered an empty slug from a caliber .9mm at the scene of the crime.

Javier said the suspects could have monitred the daily routine of Jeramos since they were aware of where the victim kept his cash collections. An envelope carried by the victim containing several checks and his cellular phone were spared by the suspects.

Virginia Abainza, the company’s accountant, told police the collections of the victim from the three-day earnings of Cruz’s restaurants (Friday to Sunday), could amount to at least half a million pesos.