2 Navotas robbers arrested in Malabon

The Malabon City police arrested two robbery suspects who tried to evade an angry mob who chased them from Navotas after they robbed an Indian national of his cash and vehicle on Saturday.

Suspects Edwin Lopez, 19, tricycle driver, and Ronel Grepalda, 20, pedicab driver, both of Bgy. San Roque, Navotas, were apprehended at the Hulong Duhat Market in Malabon after they were cornered and nearly lynched by bystanders who came to the aid of Indian trader Ranjit Singh.

At around 3 p.m., Singh, 27, of Villanueva street, Bgy. Tonsuya, Malabon, was reportedly aboard his motorcycle selling his wares when he was waylaid by the suspects at the corner of Camua and Asucena streets in Merville Subdivision, Barangay Tanza, Navotas.

At gunpoint, the suspects divested the victim of P3,000 in cash and 10 pieces of blankets. The suspects also got Singh’s motorcycle and used it for their escape.

Concerned bystanders, however, ran after the fleeing robbers and were able to corner them at Hulong Duhat market.

The mob reportedly led by one Oscar Canuza, 49, disarmed the robbers who tried to put up a fight but were overpowered by the crowd.

The timely arrival of Police Officers 1 Dante Cabilangan and Raymundo Binbinon saved the suspects from the rage of an irate mob who immediately started beating the suspects.

The two policemen who were conducting a routine foot patrol in the area, recovered from the suspects the victim’s Honda motorcycle, cash and the blankets.