By Niño N. Luces
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – A riding-in-tandem duo reached the end of the road with the long arm of the law finally catching up on them Wednesday in Albay City.
Superintendent Nilo S. Berdin, Legazpi City police chief, identified the two as Marlon F. Magsino and Michael Malveda y Beltran.
Both engaged the police in a running gun battle after shooting Alex Herman Alemania, a Small Town Lottery (STL) operator, and his companion Querobin Anne Marie Lagman, at the parking lot of Ayala Mall-Legazpi.
“Binaril sila nitong riding-in-tandem habang sila ay nasa sasakyan,” Berdin told Tempo.
Alerted by the gunshots, a policeman manning the area promptly engaged the fleeing suspects.
“Nung may marinig na putok ‘yung pulis ko, nag-imbestiga siya kung ano ‘yun. Yung dalawang suspek na sakay ng Yamaha Mio scooter papunta pala sa direksyon nya. Nung makita siya, pinaputukan siya nu’ng backride. Nakadapa kaagad ‘yung pulis ko, saka nakapag-retaliate. Tinamaan ‘yung driver saka sumemplang sa kalsada at ‘yung isa namang pulis na nakaposte sa may gate ng Ayala, pinaputukan din ‘yung dalawa,” Berdin narrated.
Magsino was killed in the shootout while Beltran was brought to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, Alemania and Lagman, 24, were both declared out of danger and are now recuperating at the Albay Doctors Hospital.
“Sa ngayon, di pa namin masabi kung ano talaga ‘yung motibo. Kakausapin pa natin si Chairman Alemania kung ano talaga. Lahat ng angulo ay tinitingnan natin kasi baka may kina-laman sa trabaho sa negosyo o kung saan. Kasama na rin kung ‘yung mga suspects ay organized group,” Berdin said.