Metro cops hunting down trader’s killers

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) yesterday ordered a manhunt against the killers of a grocery store owner and his driver during an ambush-robbery in Pasig City last Monday.

At the same time, Metro police chief Deputy Director general Reynaldo Velasco directed the five district directors to intensify the campaign against criminality and ensure police visibility in all areas in Metro Manila, saying lawless elements may take advantage of the situation where law enforcers are busy in their security preparations for a possible coup attempt.

"We should intensify our campaign against all forms of criminality in Metro Manila as unscrupulous individuals and groups may take advantage of the situation such as the killing of the grocery store owner and his driver," Velasco said.

He particularly directed Eastern Police District (EPD) Director Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento to deploy policemen that would track down the perpetrators and lead to their immediate arrest.

"The killers should be identified and ultimately arrested and put behind bars and face the full force of the law," Velasco said.

The victim, Alberto Roldan, 58, a grocery owner at the ground floor of his house on MLQ Street, P-3 in Lower Bicutan, Taguig and his driver, Alexander Amondina, 35, were on their way to deposit grocery earnings at a bank when the three 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 Ilog at 8:30 a.m.

The two victims died on the spot. Roldan sustained a gunshot wound in the head and right shoulder while Amondina was also hit in the head, left shoulder and the back.

Velasco said that there should be no let-up drive in the government’s campaign against all forms of criminality, including street crimes, illegal drugs and even terrorism.

"While we are on alert on coup threats, we should not also set aside our other task of maintaining the peace and order in the metropolis by going after lawless elements that victimizing our citizenry," Velasco said.

The NCRPO chief said that police visibility should be observed so that law enforcers will be able to respond immediately to any untoward incidents such as the ambush-robbery incident.

DEATH THREATS

Police said yesterday that Roldan had been receiving several death threats.

Sacramento said they are now eyeing dismissed employees who may have a held a grudge against him.

"It seems that the suspects had inside information on the time and route the victims took in depositing grocery earnings," he said in an interview.

It was not yet established how much money was taken by the suspects. But they left behind a duffel bag containing P1.2 million.

The money was Roldan’s grocery earnings from last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, he said.

According to Sacramento, the victim’s son told police that his father had been receiving death threats from unknown callers. "Mga tatlong death threats daw ang natanggap ng biktima sa telepono," he said.

Sacramento said the victim’s family had been cooperating fully in the police investigation. "So far, there is no clear picture yet as to who had a possible motive in killing him," he added.

Sacramento said that because of the death threats, Roldan decided to deposit his money at a PCI Bank branch near the Pasig City police station. He was on his way to the bank when his vehicle was blocked by three suspects who were waiting for him in front the King Arthur hotel at 8:30 a.m.

The Pasig City police said it has in its custody three witnesses who had a clear view of the suspects when they staged the ambush-robbery. "My men are now working on the cartographic sketches of the suspects based on the description given by the three witnesses," he said.