Metrobriefs

Robber dies over empty stolen wallet

FOR allegedly stealing a bag which contained just clothes but no money, a heavily tattooed man ended up dead shortly before Wednesday midnight when he shot it out with policemen who were chasing him in Quezon City. Reports from the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU) described the slain man as between 25 and 30 years old, 5’4″ tall, of medium build and with fair skin. Clad in a green shirt and gray shorts, he had the names Sherina Labay, Val Maglaya, Recardo and Evelyn tattooed all over his body. PO2 Jogene Hernandez of the QCPD-CIDU said they recovered from the man a .38-cal. revolver and the stolen shoulder bag which contained a gray sweatshirt, a handkerchief and an empty wallet. The bag belonged to Shirley Reyes who said she was strolling around the Quezon Memorial Circle at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday when a man took her bag at gunpoint. Reyes shouted for help, attracting the attention of operatives of the QCPD-CIDU who were on patrol on Elliptical Road. They gave chase but as soon as they caught up with the robber, he fired at them, leading to a shootout. The man died on the spot from gunshot wounds in the head and chest. Jeannette I. Andrade

Ex-Marine officer killed inside shop in QC

A 74-YEAR-OLD retired Marine colonel was shot dead on Wednesday night inside his own printing office in Quezon City by one of three men who posed as customers. Alfredo Ripoll, owner of the ADS Digital Printing on Aurora Boulevard, died instantly after he was shot in the face. PO2 Julius Ceasar Balbuena of the Quezon City Police District’s  Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said the incident happened at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday while Ripoll and two of his employees, Guilbert Banal and Arjay Ayala, were manning the printing shop. Balbuena said that two men entered the shop and said they wanted to order a tarpaulin poster. They started asking for the rates but while they were doing so, a third man who was armed with a handgun entered the shop. According to the case investigator, the two men stood aside to allow their cohort to see Ripoll who was seated behind his desk. The shooter fired once at the retired military man, hitting him in the face and killing him. The three men then fled, casually boarding different passenger jeepneys passing on Aurora Boulevard. The two printing shop employees immediately sought the help of the police. Balbuena said that all possible angles in the killing, including robbery and personal vendetta, were being investigated. Jeannette I. Andrade with Bernadette Nicolas