Slain motorcycle riders linked to murder try, robbery in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY—One of the two motorcycle riders killed in a March 26 shoot-out with policemen in Lingayen town has been tied to the February 6 attack on Indian businessman Ashok Vasandani in Pangasinan province, police said on Tuesday (Mar. 27).

Arthur Ordona Ablao, who reportedly fought policemen along with Romeo Diaz after they ignored a police checkpoint, was identified as the man who shot Vasandani. The Indian businessman was then driving home from a Rotary Club meeting. Vasandani survived.

Ablao and Diaz raced through the checkpoint at the highway in Labrador town, but were caught by pursuing police along the dike at Quibaol Village in Lingayen, the police said.

They allegedly put up a fight and were killed, but the two suspects were not immediately identified.

Diaz, the police said, was the alleged leader of a group of former inmates, which allegedly robbed a Marine and a public school teacher in Labrador and Bugallon towns.