1 rob suspect slain, 2 nabbed in bus heist

MANILA, Philippines - A suspected robber was killed and his two companions arrested after they allegedly robbed the passengers of a bus along EDSA in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Police said Elmer Sahagun, Jefrey Bata and an unnamed companion boarded a Cher Transport bus in front of the Farmer’s Market in Cubao at past 1 a.m. The bus route runs from Pacita Complex in Laguna to Navotas City, said driver Alfredo de Lara.

The three men declared the heist as the bus was on the GMA-Kamuning flyover. As the three men got out of the moving bus at the foot of the flyover near NIA Road, a police patrol team led by Inspector Ernesto Santos noticed the commotion and tried to accost the three men.

Bata shot at the lawmen, who retaliated and killed him. Policemen recovered from his possession a .38 caliber revolver.

Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 10, said Sahagun, 27, denied being one of the robbers until a security guard at a nearby gasoline station tagged him as the man who snatched his .45 caliber pistol at the height of the gunfight with policemen. The gun was not recovered, and police said Sahagun may have thrown it away.

Sahagun and a third companion, who remains unidentified, were arrested.

After the encounter, policemen recovered P10,000 and two cellular phones allegedly taken by the suspects.