Police tracking down suspects in rob-slay of seaman

MANILA, Philippines - Police are now hot on trail of the suspects in the rob-slay of a seaman in Malate, Manila Thursday morning.

The two suspects, reportedly members of a robbery gang riding in tandem, have been identified through witnesses and the footage from a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera which caught on tape the entire rob-slay incident, according to Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District.

“We are confident that these two suspects will be finally caught soon since we have men posted on their known lairs,” Margarejo said. He, however, temporarily withheld the suspects’ identities so as not to jeopardize the ongoing manhunt. The suspects are involved in similar robbery cases in the past using a motorcycle as their get-away vehicle, Margarejo said.  

On Thursday morning, the suspects shot Edralin Amon, 49, a third mate seaman of a foreign-based company, in front of the Marian Townhouse along Singalong street, while the victim was having a smoke and chatting with a male friend. Amon expired at the Ospital ng Maynila while undergoing treatment for a gunshot wound in the temple. The suspects, who wore full-face helmets, took the victim’s gold necklace with pendant and a gold bracelet.

A review of the footage from a CCTV camera installed at the main gate of the Marian Townhouse showed the faces of the two suspects while apparently casing the victim before the rob-slay.

“The suspects were already planning their criminal activity as can be gleaned from the footage,” Margarejo said while looking at the film footage which showed the two suspects just across the street, where the victim was standing. Later on, the suspects could be seen putting on their helmets and riding in tandem on a motorcycle. The entire rob-slay perpetrated by the two suspects was clearly seen on the CCTV.

“The suspects are armed and dangerous, so I told my men not to give an inch to the suspects to fight back,” Margarejo said.