5 arrested for Manila jewelry shop heist; 1 more victim dies

MANILA, Philippines - Five more men tagged in a daylight robbery of a jewelry store in Sta. Cruz, Manila Thursday were arrested the next day at their safehouse in Maharlika Village in Bicutan, Taguig City, the Manila Police District (MPD) said yesterday.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said Sadam Mato, 19; Abuber Abdulkadir, 30; Muktar Agao, 30; Mark Mangundra Kalama, 22; and Ben Panday, 22, were identified from a police lineup by at least seven witnesses.

This developed as Tiburcio Silverio, one of those injured in the shootout that followed the jewelry store heist, died at the Metropolitan Hospital yesterday morning. Tiburcio; his brothers Jerome and Adriano; and employee George Pascua were shot when they tried to fight off the suspects who entered their jewelry store.

Tiburcio’s death brings to four the fatalities from the shootout. The others are security guard Danny Orbe, who tried to stop the suspects; suspect Allan Baraguir and a still unidentified man.

De Ocampo said he is looking into reports that the same suspects, alleged members of the “Martilyo Gang,” robbed a jewelry shop at a mall in Quezon City last year.

Basir Basilon, the first one arrested after the Sta. Cruz heist, led the police to his alleged accomplices’ safehouse.