Hunt on for suspect in tourist's rob-slay

A police team was sent to three provinces yesterday to hunt down the suspect in the rob-slay of a Chinese tourist in Binondo, Manila last Sunday.

Store helper Jonas Basas, 27, allegedly killed Wu Shou Bang, 20, who was billeted at the City Plaza Condominium in Binondo. There were reports that Wu, who had arrived in the country as tourist last March 20 worked as a manager at his uncle Zhuang Xiong Biao’s store, Glowing Things General Merchandize on Clavel street in Binondo.

Legitimate Chinese-Filipino businessmen deplored the employment of Chinese tourists, whom they call GIs (Genuine Intsiks) and who allegedly engaged in illegal activities such as counterfeiting products.

According to Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr., who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District, the suspect and Wu figured in a heated argument prior to the killing.

Basas was instructed by Zhuang, who occupies a stall at the Divisoria Mall, to get several cartons of merchandise from his warehouse nearby. Basas was accompanied by the victim.

A witness said he heard Wu shouting in Chinese at Basas, who was answering in Filipino, in the warehouse. Minutes later, the witness saw Basas hurriedly leaving the warehouse. Wu’s aunt saw his body, which bore hack wounds, on the floor of the warehouse. The victim was rushed to the Mary Johnston Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered a bloodstained 18-inch samurai sword at the scene of the crime. The victim also lost his Apple I-phone worth P7,000, a P19,000 Nokia N-78 cellular phone and a wallet containing P1,000.

Arevalo has notified the Chinese Embassy of Wu’s death.