Robbery attempt in Malabon ends in gunshot injury, arrests

Two Malabon City residents were arrested after attempting to rob an Indian businessman inside his home in Barangay Tugatog.

According to Malabon Police Chief Col. Jay Baybayan, the suspects, identified only by their aliases “John Paul” and “Aries,” are both residents of Barangay Maysilo.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said in a Thursday press conference that the suspects have a pattern of targeting Indian nationals.

"When they spot an Indian national, they follow him and sometimes even ambush him by the roadside. But now, because of our intensified police presence — with many officers deployed — they followed him all the way to his house instead,” Aberin said. One of the suspects had a previous criminal record in 2023 for robbing another Indian national.

CCTV footage showed the two suspects tailing the victim, though the assault itself was not captured. As they were fleeing the scene, the businessman reportedly threw a helmet at them. One of the suspects fired back, hitting the victim in the left arm.

The motorcycle used in the crime was registered to the wife of one of the suspects.

Despite the arrests, Northern Police District Director Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan confirmed the firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered. Police said the suspects had followed the victim from Sangandaan, Caloocan City, to his residence in Malabon.

The victim is currently being treated at Manila Central University Hospital in Caloocan.

A background check through the Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) revealed that both suspects have a long history of criminal activity. John Paul has pending charges for attempted robbery in Valenzuela City (2017), serial physical injury (2018), robbery with threat and intimidation (2023), and two counts under the Anti-Illegal Gambling Law (2023).