Alleged snatcher killed in underpass near Manila City Hall

INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A man was shot dead Thursday morning in the underpass near the  Manila City Hall.

Senior Police Officer 1 Rommel del Rosario of the Manila Police District homicide section identified the victim as Juanito Delfin, 40, jobless, native of Pangasinan and resident of Gate 13 Area B Parola Compound, Tondo, Manila.

Vendors at the underpass said they heard two gunshots around 7:20 a.m., which caused panic among students and workers walking in the area. Nobody else was hurt. A vendor said the victim was a known snatcher.

In a statement to the police, Delfin’s live-in partner for 18 years said she last saw him when he left home at 6 a.m.

“He would tell me sometimes he would pick pockets,” the woman said.

The victim, who was wearing a white shirt, jeans and rubber shoes, bore two gunshot wounds in the back. He had a cell phone with him, which was used by the police to contact his live-in partner.

Police recovered two .45-caliber bullet shells in the area. Police were investigating the motive for the killing but said it was possible the assailant might have been someone the victim had tried to steal from.