Trader, wife killed in Malabon heist

MANILA, Philippines – Three robbers riding a motorcycle shot dead a couple during a robbery in Malabon City Saturday afternoon.

Superintendent Reynaldo Orante, the city police acting chief, identified the victims as Oliver Magkalas, 40, and his wife Aimee, 38.

The victims were declared dead on arrival at the Tondo Medical Center at around 2:45 p.m.

“The victims were dealers of pork and chicken at the Malabon public market and just arrived after their delivery when attacked by the suspects,” Police Officer 1 Eugene Paule told The STAR.

The couple had just alighted from their L-300 van (ZRC-628), driven by Benjamin San Jose, in front of their house along Flores street in Barangay Flores at around 2:30 p.m. when three armed men riding a red XRM motorcycle approached them.

One of the robbers grabbed Aimee’s bag, which reportedly contained large amount of cash.

Aimee put up a fight, prompting the robber to shoot her. Oliver came to the rescue of his wife but was also shot by the robbers.

The attackers sped off toward Barangay Concepcion with Aimee’s bag, leaving the driver unharmed.

Witnesses failed to jot down the plate number of the gunmen’s getaway motorcycle but described one of them as “chubby and bald” and armed with a .9mm pistol.

Paule said investigators recovered from the crime scene three shells for 9mm pistol.

The local police coordinated with the Northern Police District intelligence division, headed by Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario, to catch the robbers.