Manhunt on for 2 cops tagged in Pasig market heist

MANILA, Philippines - Two policemen have gone into hiding after allegedly staging a robbery at a public market in Pasig City Saturday that left three people dead and another wounded, an official said yesterday.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said Police Officers 1 Noel Breboneria and Jason Afos were not at their listed addresses. The two policemen are assigned at the Headquarters Service Support in Camp Crame.

“They have gone into hiding. Their flight means they are guilty of the charges against them,” he said.

Laurel vowed to work for the dismissal from the police service of Breboneria and Afos.

The two policemen, along with former Marine Rey Rufino, reportedly killed traders Ruel Malimban and Juanito Molina during a robbery Saturday at the Mega Public Market in Pasig City.

They also killed traffic enforcer Jonathan Mariano when he tried to run after them. A helper, Gibson Urban, was wounded in the incident.

A team of policemen under Superintendent Alfredo Calama-an, Pasig City police officer-in-charge, arrested Rufino during a follow-up operation.

Rufino pointed to the policemen as his accomplices. He yielded P112,000 taken from the two traders and a .45 caliber automatic pistol.

Laurel ordered Calama-an to file multiple murder and frustrated murder charges against Breboneria, Afos and Rufino before the Pasig City prosecutor’s office.