Slain Tondo robbery suspects identified

The bodies of three suspected members of a payroll robbery gang killed in an alleged shootout with Manila policemen last Thursday in Tondo were finally identified and claimed by their relatives yesterday.

Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr., chief of the homicide section of the Manila Police District, said the bodies of Arnold Flores, 27; John Dee Postrero, 22; and Ramonito Ibay Jr., 33; all residents of Navotas, are now with their respective families. He said the bodies of the three bore several tattoos.

“There is no word yet from their families whether they are filing charges against the policemen who engaged the fatalities in a shootout,” Arevalo said. 

According to Senior Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, the slain suspects failed to heed a warning to stop at a police dragnet at the corner of Moriones street and Road 10 in Tondo. The three were allegedly part of a motorcyle-riding robbery group held responsible for robbing Lorenzo Shipping Lines employees of P700,000 payroll money last Nov. 29.

Flores was killed on the spot, while Postrero and Ibay were declared dead on arrival at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center. Another gang member managed to escape on a motorcycle.

Espino has also ordered a massive manhunt for the remaining members of the robbery gang. – Nestor Etolle