Guard slain by partners in crime

No honor among thieves.

A security guard of a tiles and ceramics store was killed by his fellow workers yesterday for fear he would hog the share of the loot they stole from the store at midnight yesterday in Quezon City.

Melecio Palacio, of Pangasinan street, Luzviminda Village in Barangay Batasan Hills, and a security guard of the Floor Center Ceramics and Granite Tiles located along EDSA-Balintawak, was foud dead with his throat slit.

One of the suspects, identified as Danilo Sulayao, 35, a resident of Purok 3, Upper Bicutan in Taguig and a stay-in worker at the store, was arrested by patrolling barangay tanods of Barangay Apolonio Samson.

He is now detained at the Central Police District-Criminal Investigation Unit (CPD-CIU) in Camp Karingal. Another suspect, Mando Saludan of Malabon City, managed to escape.

Investigators at the CPD-CIU said the barangay tanods spotted the suspects at midnight while conducting a regular patrol in the area. The tanods noticed the bloodied shirts of the suspects, prompted them to approach the two men.

However, the suspects immediately ran and a chase ensued. Sulayao was eventually cornered.

During interrogation, Sulayao admitted to killing Palacio. He claimed that he feared Palacio may take a bigger share of their loot, so he decided to kill him.

According to the suspect, all three of them robbed the Floor Center of cash amounting to some P50,000. He claimed the money is now with Saludan.

Sulayao said hard times drove him to join Palacio and Saludan in carrying out the robbery.