Suspect in rob-slay of Chinese arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with Manila policemen, arrested yesterday one of the suspects in the rob-slay of a Chinese in Tondo, Manila on April 4.

The arrest of Eusebio Pedria, 22, a store helper in a mall in Baclaran, Parañaque City, will hopefully lead to the arrest of his cohorts and the solution of the case, according to Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District. “We will now turn over the case to the NBI since the suspect is in their custody,” Margarejo said.

Margarejo said an informant had contacted the NBI after reading the news in The STAR. Pedria reportedly admitted his participation in robbing the Golden Tiffany Merchandizing located along Honorio Lopez Blvd. in Balut, Tondo. However, he said it was his companions who stabbed to death 33-year-old Xintuo Weng, the warehouse manager. Margarejo said Pedria received P8,000 as his share of the loot. “The suspect told me that the robbery at the Golden Tiffany Merchandizing was the first time he joined the gang which is composed of 11 members,” Margarejo said.

The victim’s wife, Xiaoyuan Zheng, positively identified Pedria as one of several men who beat her and her husband during the robbery during a confrontation at the NBI office yesterday. Margarejo said Pedria is set to identify his cohorts, including the man who contacted him for the job.        

Officials of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. has put up a P100,000 reward for the arrest of the suspects.