Cops nab Tsinoy trader’s killers

Police have solved last Monday’s robbery-slay of a Filipino-Chinese businessman in Tondo, Manila, following the arrest of four suspects, including the alleged gunman.

Western Police District homicide section chief Senior Inspector Ador Arevalo Jr. said the suspects were nabbed at the Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila during a saturation drive last Wednesday night after they robbed a woman of P80,000.

A caliber. 38 revolver was recovered from the suspects.

In the course of the investigation, a witness recognized the four as the same men who shot Filipino-Chinese businessman Edward Co, 53, when he refused to part with his cellular phone last Monday.

Arevalo identified the suspects as Ronnie Tarayao, 31; Manuel Bocton, 27; Michael Velasco, 31; and Jeffrey Lopez, 28.

Tarayao was positively identified by the witness as the gunman. The suspect denied the accusation, saying he had just been released from detention last July 10 for a homicide case.

The victim was opening the gate of his residence at 1744 Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Tondo past 10 p.m. last Monday when the four suspects held him up.

Investigators said Co was shot in the chest when he refused to hand over his cell phone, a Nokia 6680, to the suspects.

He later died at the Metropolitan Hospital.

The suspects allegedly robbed a woman in Binondo, Manila the following night which led to their arrest.

Charges of robbery with homicide will be filed against the four suspects.