Bus robbers nabbed

Three of the six robbers arrested hours after they killed two passengers of an airconditioned bus in Mandaluyong City on Thursday were also behind four other bus robbery incidents in Metro Manila, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief, said that the three suspects — Bernardo Plaza, 23; Bobby Ibanez, 29, and Petronillo Edaaga Jr., 21 — admitted during tactical interrogation that the robbery at the Southern City bus line was their fifth heist.

At least 15 witnesses have appeared before the Mandaluyong City police positively identifying the suspects.

"The witnesses who surfaced were mostly residents of Malabon and Novaliches," said Velasquez in an interview. "We are presently coordinating with the police units concerned to trace other victims so additional charges will be filed against them."

Plaza and Ibanez admitted shooting to death bus passengers — Elmer Passion and Angelo Canonicato— while Edaaga, who was holding a hand grenade with its pin already detached, collected the cellphones and personnal belongings of the bus passngers.

The bus was being driven back to Makati City when a waiting passenger noticed the presence of armed men inside the bus, prompting him to call the DILG Police Assistance Hotline 117.

Elements of the Mandaluyong City Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) blocked the bus along EDSA and arrested the suspects, along with the driver, Urnos Arellano, 43; conductor Mario Cadiz, 32, and mechanic, Roy Abrasaldo, 32.

Arellano, Cadiz and Abrasaldo were, however, released later.

The six suspects were charged with robbery with homicide and violation of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to illegal possession of firearms and explosives at the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office. — Non Alquitran