3 caught in payroll robbery

Three of five armed men who robbed a garment factory in Marikina City of P165,000 in payroll money were arrested by police after a brief chase and gunfight yesterday.

Arrested and now detained at the Marikina police detention center are Bobby Turon, 29, of San Mateo, Rizal; Wilfredo Denoy, 46, of Fairview, Quezon City; and Neptali Nailon, 33, of Culiat, Quezon City.

The three suspects were arrested after a lengthy chase initially pursued by Marikina barangay officers and Antipolo City police officers in Cupang, Antipolo yesterday afternoon.

Police investigation disclosed that the three suspects, along with two other cohorts, barged inside the Big Three International Corp. factory owned by Teshiya Shimada, located at 108 Tanguile street, Parang, Marikina at around 11:30 a.m.

Armed with 9mm and cal. 45 pistols, the robbers disarmed security guards of the said garment factory and at gunpoint collected the said amount of cash placed inside a brown envelope from Shimada who was inside the office, even getting Shimada’s cell phone and camera.

After the five robbers scooted out of the factory and sped off on board a tricycle, Shimada immediately sought the assistance of barangay kagawad Miguel Punsalan Jr., who responded by going after the suspects’ tricycle using the barangay service vehicle.

In the course of the chase that reached Cupang, Antipolo, gunfire was reportedly exchanged between Punsalan and the fleeing robbers. This, in turn, was heard by Antipolo City policemen patrolling in the area, who went to the aid of Punsalan.

There, the policemen were able to collar the three identified suspects but the two other suspects were able to scamper away.