2 teen rob suspects nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - Two alleged members of a robbery gang composed of teenagers were arrested for beating up and robbing a trader in Malabon City before midnight Saturday.

Malabon City police chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Villanueva identified the suspects as Joseph Salientes, 19, and a 16-year-old boy, both residents of Barangay Longos.

Police seized from Salientes a homemade handgun with a .38 caliber pistol bullet while the boy yielded an ice pick.

Jhay Ar Pineda, 22, a resident of Arayat, Pampanga, and trades in secondhand cars, told police that he was walking along Hasa-Hasa street in Barangay Longos when he was robbed at around 11:15 p.m.

Pineda said that a group of youngsters approached him and without provocation one of them punched him in the face.

When Pineda tried to put up a fight, Salientes threatened to shoot him while Peter and the other members of the gang held knives and warned Pineda not to resist or he would be hurt.

The group divested Pineda of around P13,000, a mobile phone, and his wallet containing important documents. The suspects just fled on foot and disappeared in a darkened alley.

Pineda asked help from Police Officer 2 Noel Falcatan of Police Community Precinct 3 and the patrolling barangay watchmen, led by Joey Jaberina.

Falcatan and Jaberina’s five-man team scoured their area and arrested Salientes and the boy. The other suspects escaped with the loot, police said.