Cops nab suspects in rob-slay of student

Members of a robbery gang tagged in the slaying of a University of Sto. Tomas (UST) student last month, have been arrested following successive police operations in their known hideouts in Manila.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong identified the suspects as Eduard Samontina, the alleged leader of "Blondie Group," and his cohorts Raymund Lee, 21, of Binondo, and Alfie Connosido, 23, of Quiapo.

The Blondie Group had been tagged in a series of heists targeting internet cafes and passengers of jeepneys. The Clearwave Internet Cafe, Pyuter Link and PC Quest computer shops, all in Sampaloc, were among the establishments robbed by the group.

During interrogation, the suspects also admitted participation in the robbery-slay of 18-year-old Jeff Marty Longyapo, whom they shot on the night of Oct. 14 while the victim and his girlfriend were walking near UST.

Sampaloc police station chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz said Lee was first to fall when the group held up the PC Quest computer shop along Dapitan street on All Saints’ Day.

Successive police operations led to the arrest of Connosido at his residence, while Samontina was nabbed at the Daydream Hotel in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The group pointed to a certain "JR" as their financier. However, police failed to find him at his reported hideouts.

Witnesses positively identified the trio as the men who held them up. Four counts of robbery-holdup and robbery with homicide were filed against the gang members.

Meanwhile, the MPD’s anti-narcotics operatives arrested a suspected drug pusher and seized half kilo of shabu with a street value of P1 million during a recent buy-bust operation in Malate.

District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group chief Superintendent Rodolfo Llorca identified the suspect as Peter Mendoza, 37, of Mandaluyong City.

A cop posing as a buyer met the suspect at an arranged meeting place at the corner of Zobel Roxas and Dian streets in Malate, where about half kilo of shabu was supposed to be delivered.

After showing the P750,000, the undercover officer received the illegal drugs placed inside a red paper bag.