Bus snatcher shot by Makati cops dies

MANILA, Philippines - The alleged snatcher who was shot and wounded by two policemen shortly after he robbed a nurse of her gold necklace inside a passenger bus in Makati City died Tuesday night.

Danilo Briones, 34, a construction worker, and resident of 541 Calbayog street, Mandaluyong City, died at the Ospital ng Makati at 11:40 p.m., according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Jaime Lukban.

Police said Briones and his unidentified cohort allegedly snatched the gold necklace of 24-year-old nurse Fina Cecilia Angel inside the Baclaran-bound Metrolink bus at 2:45 p.m. along EDSA near Barangay Guadalupe Viejo.

The suspect was about to escape when he caught the attention of PO1 Moises Aquines of the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) Regional Police Office and PO3 Rosti de Lunas of the Police Protection and Security Group, who were also passengers of the bus.

Aquines and De Lunas were going after the suspect when Briones’ cohort pulled out a handgun and tried to shoot the approaching policemen.

This prompted Aquines to shoot the suspect, hitting him in his right leg.

Police said a fan knife was recovered from Briones while his unidentified cohort fled with the victim’s necklace.