Suspect in San Juan market heist falls

MANILA, Philippines - One of two suspects in the P100,000 robbery at the Agora public market in San Juan City in March, which left a security guard dead, was arrested in Taytay, Rizal yesterday.

Jayson Jallores, 25, is the subject of an arrest warrant for robbery issued by Judge Genie Agbada, of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 264.

He admitted to his role in killing security guard Florante Cepeda, 31, and wounding cashier Rosalyn Lopez, 25, during a robbery at the market’s basement on March 9, city police chief Senior Superintendent Ariel Arcinas said.

Lopez, escorted by Cepeda, was collecting rent among stallholders at the market when Jallores’ companion robbed them at gunpoint, killing the guard when he tried to stop the heist.

According to Arcinas, stallholders identified Jallores, a habitué at the market, as the driver of the getaway motorcycle used by the gunman.