Caloocan businessman killed in robbery

MANILA, Philippines - A businessman was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen during a robbery in Caloocan City before midnight Friday.

Police identified the victim as Carlos Esmundo, 25, a resident of Miranda Subdivision, Caloocan City North, and a stockholder of biscuit manufacturing firm Rebisco.

Police Officer 1 Mark Bartolome said Esmundo was on his way home, driving his red Toyota Revo along Llano Road in Camarin at around 11:15 p.m., when the suspects shot at him.

Bartolome said bullets shattered the window on the driver’s side of Esmundo’s vehicle and killed the businessman on the spot.

Witnesses told police that the gunmen fled after gunning down Esmundo but returned and shot the victim several times. Police recovered at least 11 shells from a .9mm pistol at the crime scene.

Police said a green bag that Esmundo brought with him as he left his office was missing. The bag reportedly contained more than P100,000.

According to Bartolome, they are looking into revenge as a possible motive in Esmundo’s killing since the businessman’s firm retrenched some of its workers recently.

Police are also “closely eyeing” a possible “inside job” since they are also considering robbery as a motive.