5 teens stab dead tabloid reporter in rob

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested yesterday two of five teenagers hours after they stabbed dead a tabloid reporter during a robbery in Antipolo City.

Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, Rizal police director, said Benedicto Leco, 18, and a 17-year-old companion were positively identified by witnesses as among those who tried to rob and fatally stabbed Edwin Perez, 54, a reporter of the tabloid People’s Balita.

Anduyan ordered Superintendent Rodino Elfa, Antipolo City police chief, to hunt down a certain Jerry and two other teenagers who went into hiding after Perez’s killing.

“We should account for the remaining suspects in the case to give justice to Perez and his family,” Anduyan said in his directive.

Perez died on the spot from two stab wounds in the chest.

Perez was on his way home aboard his motorcycle after covering the eastern Metro Manila beat but decided to while away his time amid a heavy downpour at a bakery in front of a tricycle terminal in Barangay San Jose at around 1:40 a.m. yesterday, police prober SPO2 Manuel Padlan said.

Apparently tired after a day’s work, Perez dozed off. It was at this juncture when the five teenagers approached him and tried to grab his motorcycle key and wallet.

Perez was roused from sleep and realizing that he was being robbed, fought back, according to Padlan. The five teenagers ganged up on Perez and witnesses said it was a certain Jerry who stabbed the reporter in the chest.

The remains of Perez, a member of the Rizal PNP Press Corps, lie in state in his house in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City. They will be brought to his hometown in Talisay, Camarines Norte on Monday.