Two killed in Edsa bus robbery

A bus robbery on EDSA last Thursday resulted in the death of two passengers and the arrest of six suspects, including the vehicle’s driver, conductor and mechanic.

"While we are busy securing Metro Manila for the general elections and the threat of terrorist attacks, we are also preventing criminal elements from taking advantage of the situation," said Metro Police chief Director Ricardo de Leon following the arrest of bus driver Urnos Arellano, 43; conductor Mario Cadiz, 32; mechanic Roy Abrasaldo, 32; Bernardo Plaza, 23; Bobby Ibanez, 29; and Petronillo Edaaga Jr., 21.

The suspects were presented to media yesterday by De Leon and Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District. Seized were two caliber .45 pistols and a hand grenade.

Ibanez, Plaza and Edaaga boarded a Southern City aircon bus (PYK 307) on Ayala Avenue in Makati at about 9 p.m. last Thursday. They were issued tickets for Cubao in Quezon City.

Upon reaching the Ayala flyover, the trio pulled out their weapons and announced a heist. Edaaga then started collecting the cell phones and personal belongings of passengers.

Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief, said that while the bus was stationary on the Guadalupe bridge, passenger Angelo Canonicato, an engineer and karate enthusiast, tried to grab Plaza’s gun. Ibanez shot him twice.

The engineer’s companion, Elmer Passion, an architect, stood up and tried to fight the suspects. Plaza opened fire twice.

The suspects then pulled down the bus curtains and ordered the driver to turn off the lights inside.

The bus started moving and took a U-turn on Santolan, near the police headquarters in Camp Crame, headed back to Makati.

While near Ortigas Avenue, a commuter who tried to flag down the bus, saw the suspects inside with their guns aimed at passengers, prompting him to call the DILG Police Assistance Hotline 117.

The operator dispatched the report to Velasquez who immediately ordered the local SWAT team to proceed to EDSA and conduct blocking operations.

A Mandaluyong SWAT team blocked the bus at the corner of EDSA and Boni Ave. Reinforcements from the EPD-SWAT and mobile cars from various police units started arriving and surrounded the vehicle.

Velasquez ordered the rear window of the bus smashed so SWAT operatives could have a clear view of what was happening inside. One of the suspects was holding a hand grenade with the pin already detached.

The suspects eventually allowed a man carrying a child off the bus as a gesture that they were ready to give up. Minutes later, a woman rushed out of the bus telling policemen the suspects were giving up.

Later, the suspects were arrested and the bodies of Canonicato and Passion were carried off the bus.

Plaza claimed that they were in cahoots with Arellano, Cadiz, and Abrasaldo, who were rounded up. Velasquez, however, said they have no hard evidence as yet against the bus personnel.

The trio vehemently denied being involved in the robbery.

Nevertheless, Velasquez included them as suspects in the filing of multiple robbery with homicide charges. — Non Alquitran