Robbers kill Tsinoy trader in Caloocan

A Chinese-Filipino businessman was stabbed dead by still unidentified suspects inside the office of a family store early yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

Senior Superintendent Leo Garra, city police chief, identified the victim as Hwang Jian Ming, 29, single, of 50 Dau street, 6th Avenue in Caloocan City.

Hwang’s lifeless body was discovered by his father Benson Uy, 57, on the floor of the Challenge Poly Enterprises office located at the San Miguel Compound between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue at around 5:50 a.m.

Senior Inspector Carlos Mendez, Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) team leader, said Hwang succumbed to three stab wounds: one in the left chest, another on his forehand and the third at the back of his head.

PO2 Jaime Basa, case investigator, said that prior to the stabbing, the victim was playing mahjong with visiting friends until the session broke up at around 4:30 a.m. after which the guests went home.

His body was found about an hour later.

Probers, however, found no signs of forced entry. They theorized the suspect or suspects are probably known to the victim.

Uy said his son often sleeps at the office.

Police said the suspects may have entered the establishment earlier and hid themselves before it closed for the night so it was not necessary to bust any padlock or forcibly enter the store.

Also, the store’s safety vault was pried open, but Uy said nothing was taken since cash was not kept there.

Recovered from the pocket of the victim’s short pants was cash amounting to some P1,000 initially leading probers to rule out robbery as motive for the killing. Hwang’s father, however, claimed his son had more or less P10,000 with him that night.

His cell phone was also missing.

A follow-up operation, led by follow-up unit chief Inspector Marcelo Mariano, was launched to identify the suspects.

In Taguig, a barangay watchman who was active in the campaign against illegal drugs, was shot dead the other night in front of his house in Maharlika Village.

Abdullazis Kuday, 38, had just arrived at their house and knocking on the door on Marawi street, at around 8 p.m. when an unidentified suspect peppered him with bullets.

The victim’s sons, who rushed to the door to check what happened, were also hurt. Jaynadin, 7, sustained a gunshot wound in the left cheek while Majamin Datu Ali, 12, in the right hand.

PO3 Alain Sigwa said Kuday sustained 10 gunshot wounds in the back and left arm. He was declared dead on arrival at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.

Investigators recovered from the crime scene at least two spent shells of a caliber .45 pistol.

The victim’s wife, Barasat, told police that his husband had received death threats for his anti-illegal drugs drive.

"Kumain ka na ng masarap kasi yan na ang huling kain mo," read a text message received by the victim. – With Edu Punay