Holdup victims identify suspects

MANILA, Philippines - Two men who allegedly robbed and shot a nun in Sta. Ana, Manila are also involved in carjacking activities, according to a police official.

Alvin Dolor, 35, and Vergel Malabana, 24, were positively identified by Jonathan Bal­mes as the persons who forcibly took at gunpoint his Yamaha Novo motorcycle in Sta. Ana, Manila on April 7. Balmes told police Dolor even tried to shoot him but his gun failed to fire.

“The suspects could be responsible for a series of carjacking in Manila through threat and intimidation,” Chief Inspector Randy Maluyo, who heads the anti-carnapping section of the Manila Police District told The STAR. Maluyo is calling on victims whose vehicles were forcibly taken at gunpoint to identify the suspects who are presently detained at the MPD headquarters.

“The police are trying to build a solid case against Dolor and Malabana to prevent them from posting bail and continue their nefarious activities,” Maluyo said.    

Dolor is the alleged gunman who shot Sister Theresa Thomas Folanchery, an Indian of the Charity of Saint Anne in Sta. Ana, while Malabana is the driver of their get-away vehicle.

Dolor shot Folanchery when she tried to fight off the attempt of Dolor to grab her bag containing P95,000 which she had withdrawn for the salary of her staff. She was already in front of the gate of the nuns’ convent when the robbery occurred.

The nun survived the shooting, while police recovered part of the loot amounting to P13,000 and a snub-nosed .38 caliber pistol with five bullets from the suspects.