Manhunt on for Marikina payroll robbers

MANILA, Philippines - Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele has ordered a massive manhunt for five men who perpetrated a P1.4 million payroll robbery in Marikina City last March 12.

Mantele directed the Marikina City police chief Senior Superintendent Romy Magsalos to go after suspects Jay-Ar Magpuri and Salvador Felipe, who were identified as among the suspects who killed San Mateo, Rizal municipal government employee Maria Lily de Jesus, 52, and hurt driver Felix Alcantara, 43, during the heist.

The local police traced Magpuri and Felipe through a getaway motorcycle found abandoned in Barangay Malanday hours after the robbery, Mantele said.

Alcantara and several witnesses identified Magpuri as the one who allegedly shot De Jesus while Felipe was the driver of the getaway motorcycle with license plate 1764-RI.

Arnold Sumagao claimed Magpuri and Felipe borrowed his blue Honda Wave motorcycle, which the duo used in the payroll heist last March 12. He said he did not know it would be used in a robbery.

Records show that De Jesus, Alcantara and three other employees of the San Mateo, Rizal municipal government had just withdrawn P1.4 million from a bank in Barangay Concepcion Uno when the robbers blocked the victims’ Toyota Revo (SFW-347) along J.P. Rizal street at about 4:20 p.m.

“We strongly believe that the suspects have an insider at the bank because the suspects immediately proceeded to where De Jesus was seated and demanded she hand over the bag containing the money,” Mantele said.

De Jesus resisted, prompting Magpuri to open fire, hitting her in the head. Alcantara, who was behind the wheel of the vehicle, was hit in the left arm.

While the robbery was in progress, the suspects’ two companions, also riding tandem on another motorcycle, acted as lookouts, according to police.

After grabbing the money from De Jesus, the robbers fled towards Barangay Malanday, where they abandoned the motorcycles and transferred to a waiting gray Mitsubishi Lancer with plate control number 185.

Mantele said Land Transportation Office records show that Sumagao owned the motorcycle.