Policemen arrest 1 of three robbers

This one did not get away.

A robber, who with two companions, robbed a bank manager of some P60,000 in a bingo collection money yesterday in Malate, Manila, was arrested by alert Western Police District (WPD) policemen.

Unfortunately, the stolen cash was not recovered and two of the arrested suspect’s cohorts managed to escape.

Police identified the arrested robber as Allan Sansaluna, 29, a resident of the Muslim compound in San Miguel, Manila. Seized from him was a homemade .38 caliber revolver.

According to the police, equitable-PCI bank manager Dominador Francisco and two bank security guards were on their way to their bank’s branch at the Sheraton Hotel-with the collection from the bingo-outlet inside the Harrison Plaza at about 11 a.m. when they were robbed.

Police said Francisco and his two escorts were about to cross the street to the bank when they were met by Sansaluna and the two other suspects identified as a certain Ladia and a certain Jerry.

With drawn guns and a grenade, police said the suspects announced the heist, grabbed the large bag containing the money from Francisco and ran. The two guards, though shocked, managed to give chase. A brief shootout then ensued.

The commotion attracted the attention of a passing WPD police car manned by Senior Police Officer 1 Teodulo Cadiz and Police Officer 3 Benjamin Custodio, both of the Western Police District Mobile Division.

With police assistance, pursuing security guard Reymundo Saguin then managed to subdue Sansaluna. His two cohorts however, escaped with the cash.

Sansaluna, who claims to be a former fighter of the Moro National Liberation Front, is now being detained at the WPD Theft and Robbery Section for further investigation. –Mike Frialde