Snatcher killed by speeding van

A suspected snatcher was killed after being run over by a van on España in an attempt to escape from his police escorts, who were hunting down his cohorts in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday afternoon.

Police said the fatality Michael Manuzan, 19, had been blamed for the death of robbery victim Angelina Cumpas, 50, who was killed after she herself was hit by a speeding vehicle last Thursday.

Manuzan, an alleged member of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik Gang, died on the spot after being hit by a van which sped off after the incident that took place at around 2:10 p.m.

Superintendent Manolo Martinez, chief of the Western Police District- Station 4, said that last Thursday, Manuzan and his cohorts held up passengers inside a public utility jeepney along España.

A terrified Cumpas tried to avoid being robbed jumped from the vehicle, but was hit by another vehicle.

Bystanders immediately brought the woman to Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, where she was declared dead.

Patrolling officers spotted Manuzan and arrested him, but his cohorts escaped.

Martinez said Manuzan was taken to the Sampaloc area yesterday after he promised to lead policemen to the hideout of his cohorts.

But as cops searched for the other robbers, Manuzan suddenly fled, but he was hit by a vehicle, killing him instantly, an investigator said.

Meanwhile,a 42-year-old man was killed by a train while chasing his dog along the Philippine National railway tracks Thursday night in Makati City.

Police identified the fatality as Apolinario Malaras, a streetsweeper and a resident of PNR Compound on P. Medina corner Javier streets in Barangay Pio del Pilar.

At around 8:30 p.m., Malaras was seen chasing a puppy along the tracks near his house.

Investigation by SPO 1 William Binalla of the Makati Traffic Enforcement Unit showed that Malaras failed to see the oncoming southbound commuter train.

The front portion of the train hit Malaras.

He was rushed by his wife to the Makati Medical Center where he died an hour later. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Nikko Dizon