A barangay (village) watchman was killed after he tried to stop two robbery suspects in Malate, Manila, on Monday.
According to investigator SPO2 Ronald Gallo of the Manila Police District homicide section, Jonas Mateo, 32, was driving a pedicab on Taft Avenue corner Estrada Street at 7 p.m. when he heard a scream for help.
It turned out that Mary France Olano, 35, a call center agent, had just been robbed by Julius Ceringan, 39, a member of the Bahala na Gang and his cohort identified only as Jeffrey, 32.
The two robbers had gotten on a motorcycle and were about to escape when Mateo blocked their path with his pedicab.
Ceringan, however, pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the body until he died.
Ceringan was later arrested by four guards of De La Salle University who were on patrol. Seized from him was a 12-inch kitchen knife. His cohort, however, was able to escape with Olano’s bag.
The police said they would file a case of robbery with homicide against Ceringan and his cohort.