Rob suspect tagged in pregnant woman's death caught

Police arrested yesterday one of two men who allegedly robbed a passenger jeepney, an incident that resulted in the death of a pregnant woman when she jumped out of the moving vehicle.

Cedrick Perez, 24, was arrested by operatives of the Jose Abad Santos police station led by Superintendent Remigio Sedanto at his hideout in Pritil, Tondo several hours after the robbery.

Perez was positively identified by the victims as one of two men who held them up in a Divisoria-Sangandaan passenger jeepney while cruising along Juan Luna street in Tondo.

During the commotion, Jeanne Rose Barredo, a 25-year-old vendor, jumped out of the jeepney and landed head first on the pavement. She was rushed to the Mary Johnston Hospital, where she succumbed to head injuries after giving birth to a baby boy after eight months of pregnancy. The baby is now under medication at the hospital’s pediatrics ward.

Sedanto said a massive manhunt is ongoing against the other suspect, identified as “Jason” and “Pusakal,” who is reportedly armed with a gun.

Charges of robbery with homicide and unintentional abortion will be filed against the suspects, according to Sedanto.

— Nestor Etolle