Robbers out for ‘Christmas gifts’ shot dead by QC cops

Two armed robbers who reportedly barged into a grocery store asking for “Christmas gifts” were killed in a gunfight with the Quezon City police Friday night.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Supt. Mario Dela Vega said the stolen cash worth P5,000 was recovered from the two men who remained unidentified as of Saturday.

Both of them sported jail gang tattoos: One had the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik mark while the other, that of Batang City Jail.

Armed with .38 caliber revolvers, the two suspects entered the Lucky Wings grocery store on Sauyo Road, Novaliches, and declared a holdup around 9:30 p.m. Friday, said QCPD deputy director for operations Senior Supt Neri Ilagan.

According to Ilagan, the one with the Sigue-Sigue tattoo told the owner, Maricel Rana, in Filipino: “Just give us the money. We’re just here for our Christmas presents [Namamasko lang po]. We will not hurt you.”

The store employees were able to call the police for help while the robbers were taking the money from the cashier.

Ilagan said the two suspects were about to leave when a QCPD team arrived within minutes. The suspects fired first, he said, prompting the police to shoot back. Julie M. Aurelio

Money changer shop owner robbed, killed by trio on bike

A businessman was robbed and shot dead by three men on a motorcycle outside his money changer shop Friday night in Quezon City.

Marvin Sandiko, 35, died during treatment at St. Agnes Hospital two hours after the shooting in Barangay (village) Damayan.

Police Officer 1 Romeo Nino said the victim owned the Noel Money Changer shop at the corner of San Vicente Street and Del Monte Avenue.

The shooting happened around 6:20 p.m. as the shop was about to close for the day.

A tricycle driver told police that he saw three men on a motorcycle, two of them carrying with handguns.

One of them got off, approached Sandiko and grabbed his backpack which was believed to be containing cash.

It was not clear who among the three men shot the victim, but the witness said he saw the wounded Sandiko fall to the ground, gasping and pleading for help.

The robbers then fled on the bike while firing their guns in the air. Julie Aurelio