Trader killed in Pasig ambush

Three armed men shot dead a grocery store owner and his driver during a ambush-robbery in Pasig City yesterday.

One of the suspects managed to grab the clutch bag containing an undetermined amount of cash from businessman, Alberto Roldan, 58, and casually walked away from the crime scene.

However, they failed to take a duffel bag containing P1.2 million, police said.

After receiving the robbery report, Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), immediately dispatched his men after the suspects but they missed them by a few minutes.

Roldan, and his driver, Alexander Amondina, 35, were on their way to deposit grocery earnings at a bank when the suspects flagged down the blue Mitsubishi L-200 Strada (WNL-534) in front of the King Arthur Hotel located at the corner of Buenaventura and Cpl. Cruz streets in Barangay Bagong Ilog at 8:30 a.m.

Sacramento said Roldan was the owner of a grocery at the ground floor of his house on MLQ street, P-3 in Lower Bicutan, Taguig.

Two of the suspects positioned themselves in front of the van while the third went to the rear of the vehicle, police said. They opened fire at close range.

Roldan sustained a gunshot wound in the head and right shoulder while Amondina was also hit in the head, left shoulder and the back.

They died on the spot.

After making sure the two men were dead, one of the suspects opened the right front door of the pickup and took the clutch bag Roldan was holding. Witnesses described the suspects as between 30-35 years old and wearing maong short pants and white T-shirts.

Roldan’s duffel bag, containing P1.2 million in different denominations, was under the victim’s feet when it was found by responding policemen, headed by Chief Inspector Angeles Fernandez of Police Community Precinct 16.

Sacramento said his men failed to find any empty shells or slugs at the crime scene, which could indicate the suspects used caliber .38 revolvers.

Prior to the robbery, a witness, Lolita Sebastian, said she saw one of the suspects using his cell phone

"Nandiyan na sila," the suspect reportedly said over the phone as he signaled to his two companions to establish their blocking positions.

Sacramento said the victims may have known the suspects because the gunmen made sure their targets were dead before escaping.

The bodies of Roldan and Amondina were brought to the crime laboratory of the PNP in Mandaluyong City for autopsy.