A witness described the suspect as between 25 to 35 years of age, about 5’ 5" tall, about 140 pounds and of fair complexion.
Aside from the sketch of one of the suspects, the WPD homicide section also has in its custody a Kawasaki motorcycle that is suspected to have been used by the two gunmen in their escape after the heist.
The motorcycle, with a blue gas tank and plate number PL-3941, was found by elements of the WPD-District Intelligence and Investigation Division along Zamora Street in Pandacan, Manila, just hours after the bloody heist.
Chief Inspector Juanito Taluban, chief of the WPD homicide section, said the suspects probably abandoned the motorcycle in the area to throw police off the track. He added that they would still need to verify if the motorcycle is indeed the same one used by the suspects during the heist.
"We have a witness who described this motorcycle as the one allegedly used by two men. The witness later saw the men change their shirts before escaping," Taluban said.
Killed in the robbery were Dante Castro, 56, retired military officer and security officer of the RPM foreign exchange shop. Wounded in the incident was Allan Divisoria, 26, driver of the Nissan Bluebird Super Saloon sedan with plate number DJM-400 they were riding. Also aboard the car but unhurt was Kim Ayeng, 34, also an employee of the RPM money changing shop, and the one carrying the duffel bag containing the P2 million cash.
The victims had just changed US dollars to pesos at the Metrobank branch in Binondo, Manila and were bringing the money to their shop on Padre Faura Street when the robbers struck at about 1 p.m. as their car was caught in heavy traffic in the underpass.
Witnesses said the three men aboard a motorcycle appeared from behind the victims’ car. Two men got off and casually approached the victims’ car as the motorcycle driver drove up to the mouth of the underpass.
The two gunmen opened fire with 9 mm pistols at the car’s windshield, driver’s side window and front passenger side window, hitting Castro and Divisoria in various parts of the body.
After shooting Castro and Divisoria, one of the men opened the rear passenger door and grabbed the duffel bag containing the cash from Ayeng who had ducked onto the car’s floor.
A witness saw the two men carrying the duffel bag run to the mouth of the underpass where their motorcycle was waiting. They boarded the motorcycle and the three suspects sped towards T. M. Kalaw Street.
One of the gunmen was described by one witness as of heavy built, and wearing a black striped shirt.
Divisoria and Castro were rushed to the nearby Manila Doctors’ Hospital where Castro was declared dead on arrival. – Mike Frialde