FX passenger shot dead in Marikina

Three men shot dead a passenger they suspected to be a law enforcer during a robbery last Wednesday in Marikina City.

The three suspects fled in different directions after taking the cash and valuables of FX passengers, including that of the unidentified victim who was shot several times in the face.

Senior Superintendent Manny Gaerlan, Marikina City police chief ordered a citywide manhunt against the suspects, believed behind the string of robbery cases in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

FX driver, Rolly Riego said the suspects boarded his Isuzu Hi-lander with license plate TWK 657 along the Marcos Highway in Barangay San Roque at about 6:30 p.m. last Wednesday.

Thirty minutes later, the suspects took out their handguns, announced the heist and ordered the victim and two others to hand over their valuables and cellular phones.

One of the suspect then shot the victim in the face.

When he searched the passenger for other valuables, the suspect found several bullets in his pocket. The two other suspects then joined their cohort companion in emptying their handguns on him.

Gaerlan said the suspects fled after making sure that the victim was dead.

Responding policemen recovered empty shells from a 9mm pistol and caliber .45 automatic pistol at the crime scene.

Night Watch nets 2

The police’s Night Watch patrol has proven its effectiveness once again with the apprehension of two robbery holdup suspects past midnight yesterday in Quiapo, Manila.

Suspects, Gilbert Alenario, 26, and Rafael Laranang, 21, both Sputnik Gang members, were tagged in a series of holdup incidents on board passenger jeepneys atop the Quezon Bridge in Quiapo.

The two usually strike at night, according to Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula.

Sapitula said the station’s Night Watch patrol nabbed the two suspects following the complaint of a 19-year-old student that he was held up inside a Quiapo-bound passenger jeepney.

Together with the complainant, SPO1 Henry Legaspi and PO2 Domingo Dumancil chased the fleeing suspects on board a police vehicle. The suspects were finally cornered under the Quezon Bridge.

Recovered from the two suspects were a cellular phone, which the victim positively identified as his. Two fan knives were also recovered from the suspects.

Charges of robbery-holdup and illegal possession of deadly weapons were filed against the suspects. – Non Alquitran, Nestor Etolle