Cops close in on mall official's killers

The police have identified the group of gunmen who ambushed and killed a mall security officer in Malabon City Friday.

Malabon City police chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Villanueva said members of “a big and well-organized group of hit men” shot dead Enrique Villagracia, 58, who worked at Malabon City Square.

Villanueva, however, declined to divulge the identities of Villagracia’s killers pending the result of an ongoing manhunt.

After shooting Villagracia, the suspects shot it out with Malabon police officers in Barangay Tinajeros.

Three of the suspects – one of whom was identified as Mark Ly – were killed while another, Ernesto Errua, was arrested. Senior Inspector Zosimo Sumagpang, who led the police team, sustained a gunshot wound.

Paquito Llanera, who was fetching his seven-year-old son, was killed in the crossfire while tricycle driver Danilo Paningbatan was wounded. – Pete Laude