Cops nab 3 in break-in that killed trader, daughter

Three men linked to the robbery-related killing of a businessman and his daughter in Sta. Cruz, Manila, were arrested on Saturday, the police said.

SPO1 Ramir Dimagiba said Juvonne Tabudlo, Kenneth Sotto and Paul Ryan Lomboy served as lookouts for two more suspects who entered the diaper store owned by Onofre Cruz on Felix Huertas Street in the afternoon of Oct. 27.

Upon learning of the arrests, members of the Cruz family went to the Manila Police District headquarters in white shirts printed with the words: “Justice for Onofre and Sierra.”

Tabudlo and Sotto, both in their 20s, were caught in an entrapment operation in the Sampaloc district.

Lomboy was arrested in Tondo and also faced charges of car theft and possession of illegal drugs.

Police said a security camera recording of the robbery showed that Cruz, 53, was gunned down by the robbers when he tried to disarm one of them.

Coming to Cruz’s aid, his daughter Sierra, 28, grabbed a gun kept under the cashier counter and fired at one of the robbers as they were fleeing, hitting him in the stomach and killing him instantly.

The second robber, however, returned to the store and shot the younger Cruz before escaping.

An initial police report said it was the older Cruz who shot and killed one of the attackers, who was later identified as Arnold Lipon, 34, of Cainta, Rizal province.

Recovered from the three arrested suspects were two motorcycles believed to have been used as the getaway vehicles, three cell phones and P13,000 in cash from Sotto, Dimagiba said. Maricar B. Brizuela