A 35-year-old foreign national lost his life along F.C. Francisco Street in Barangay San Roque, Teresa, Rizal, after gunmen shot and robbed him around 6 p.m. on Friday, July 10.
Investigators determined that two bullets proved fatal. According to ABS-CBN News, initial findings from the Scene of the Crime Operatives placed one wound on the victim’s right shoulder near the arm and another on his cheek. “According sa [investigation] sir, [calibre] .45 kaya natumba siya,” said PMaj. Rodiard Dela Peña, chief of the Teresa Municipal Police Station.
A resident who witnessed the attack recounted greeting the foreigner moments before the shooting. “Paglabas ko ‘yong foreigner, andiyan na sa may poste. Sinabihan ko pa nga siya ng ‘what’s up’. Hindi siya lumingon, tapos ang sabi niya ‘come on, come on’. No’ng lingunin ko, ‘yong lalaki, sinalubong na siya tapos sabay bunot ng baril, pinutukan na agad ‘yong tao,” the witness said. The same resident described how the necklace resisted the attacker’s grip. “Ilang beses pang nabagok ‘yong ulo ng biktima kasi makapal ‘yong alahas. Hindi ko naman siya maano kasi may hawak rin siyang baril. ‘Yong safety ko pa rin ang inaalaala ko,” he added.
CCTV footage captured a riding-in-tandem trailing the victim. The motorcycle passed him at first, but a separate camera angle showed the pair making a U-turn and stopping directly in front of the foreigner. Teresa PNP said the back rider tried to snatch the necklace at that point, but the grab failed when the victim fought back. He even chased the two men, though the driver quickly sped away.
The suspects returned a short time later, and the back rider fired at the foreigner from close range. Dela Peña described how the confrontation escalated after the initial failure. “Hindi naging successful ‘yong unang attempt ng suspek. Hinabol pa niya. Tinusok pa niya ng payong. No’ng napansin niya na binalikan siya, ang ginawa niya pumorma din siya, sinugod din niya,” he said.
With the victim sprawled in the middle of the road, the gunman seized the necklace and cellphone before fleeing.
The Rizal Police Provincial Office has organized a Special Investigation Task Group to hunt down the two suspects. Teresa PNP continues to verify the nationality of the slain foreigner.
