Chinese couple slain in Malabon payroll heist

MANILA, Philippines - A Chinese couple was shot dead during an early morning payroll robbery in Malabon City yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 4 Enrico Palomar said Mintin Ong, 70, owner of the White Horse plastic factory on Hizon street in Barangay Tenejeros; and his wife Quency, 60, were declared dead on arrival at the Manila Central University Hospital at around 7 a.m.

The victims had just alighted from their silver Toyota Rav-4 (TXO-315) in front of their factory at around 6:30 a.m. when two men, riding a motorcycle without license plates, suddenly appeared on Quency’s side.

The back-rider grabbed Quency’s bag, which reportedly contained some P100,000 intended for the weekend salaries of their employees, but the woman held on to the bag. The robber pulled a handgun and shot her in the head. Mintin was shot in the chest when he tried to help his wife.

The robbers sped toward Sitio Gulayan, a known haven of criminals in Barangay Catmon, with the bag containing the money.

Investigators recovered three .45 caliber shells from the crime scene.

Witnesses told police that the robbers may have an accomplice in the factory because they knew what time the victims would arrive, and that the factory’s surveillance camera was reportedly turned off during the robbery.

They also told the investigators that several workers of the factory are residents of Barangay Catmon.

Malabon City police chief Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Ampil and his men were conducting a follow-up investigation yesterday.