Traders point to 3 male bodies as robbers

A group of Chinese traders in Divisoria has positively identified the three bodies found dumped on a garbage heap in Tondo, Manila last week as those of a group of robbers who held them up on several occasions.

Chinese traders of imported onions, garlic and ginger in Sto. Cristo, Bilbao and Carmen Planas streets in Divisoria have become the favorite targets of robbers, since they do not bother to report the crimes to the police, said Moriones police station chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino.

During a visit at the funeral parlor where the bodies are being kept, the Chinese traders led by Michael Sy positively identified the victims as the persons who robbed them of cash right inside their stores, according to Espino. 

The victims were identified by their relatives as Rolly Alvenda, 38; Celso Marvella, 27; and Rex Cubio, 25; who reportedly worked as vegetable carriers in Divisoria.

Espino said a footage of a close-circuit television (CCTV) camera installed at Sy’s store showed that Alvenda closely resembled one of the robbers who struck at around 2:44 a.m. on Nov. 6. The person was even seen holding a gun. Espino lamented the reluctance of the Chinese traders to report the crimes to police which emboldened robbery groups to continue with their nefarious activities. There were reports that most of the perpetrators are vegetable carriers employed by the Chinese traders who were paid way below the minimum wage.

“This is also one of the reasons why these traders are adamant to report to police. Others are illegal aliens and do not want to be unmasked,” Espino said.

Police also arrested Edgar Decena, 40; Ryan Hagosajos, 26; and Ruben Corso, 31; on Nov. 6 as part of the police operations to neutralize the robbery gangs. A .38 caliber pistol was recovered from Corso. The three are now under detention at the Moriones police station.       

Espino said the killing of the robbery suspects could have been perpetrated by their comrades who could have been left out in the division of the loot. “It could also have been done by other robbery gangs who want to corner the lucrative criminal activities within the Divisoria area,” Espino told The STAR. He said that since the Chinese traders started to cooperate with the police, no robbery incident involving the Chinese has so far been recorded.

Espino also fielded police beat patrollers in crime-prone areas and tapped the barangay tanods for a coordinated and synchronized patrol during the night.