Caloocan heist turns into hostage drama

The police shot dead one of four armed men who took a hotel roomboy hostage in a desperate move after the lawmen caught them robbing a passenger jeepney in Caloocan City past midnight yesterday.

Caloocan City police chief Superintendent William Macavinta identified the slain suspect as Gerardson Josue, 23, jobless and a resident of Third Avenue also in Caloocan City.

Josue’s alleged cohorts —Marlon Cunanan, 24, and Jolito Magnaye, 23, both residents of Caloocan City — were arrested while an unidentified suspect escaped.

Police seized from Cunanan a .38 caliber revolver with three bullets while Magnaye yielded a seven-inch knife.

Leo Gabrinao Jr., 34, a resident of Valenzuela City, told police that he was driving his passenger jeepney (PXY-960) en route to Monumento from Manila when at least four of his passengers announced a heist while they were cruising in between Second and Third avenues on Rizal Avenue Extension in Caloocan at about 1 a.m.

Armed with handguns and knives, the suspects robbed their fellow passengers—John Velasco, 34, Cecilia Pe, 28, Arnold Almonte, 31, Steve Garcia, 32, Richard Benesisto, 22, and Joan Villaverde, 22—of cash and valuables.

Senior Police Officer 1 Eduardo Pagtalunan, PO2 Monico Salvador, PO2 Allan Tolentino and PO1 Armando Adriano, who were on routine patrol, chanced upon the fleeing suspects and gave chase. The policemen are all detailed at the Police Community Precinct 5.

Cunanan and Magnaye were immediately arrested while Josue barged into the Victory Hotel and grabbed Jason Delorino, 27.

Armed with a knife, Josue threatened to stab his captive as policemen were closing in on him. Tolentino shot Josue, hitting the suspect in the left side of the body.

Police recovered from the suspects a pouch containing Pe’s identification cards and other important documents.

The suspects had passed on the other items they had taken to an unidentified companion, who escaped.