A manhunt operation has been launched for the arrest of two motorcycle-riding gunmen who killed a tourist from New Zealand after robbing him and his girlfriend in Filmore Street, Barangay Palanan, Makati City Sunday night.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Gen. Jonnel Estomo said heightened police visibility is being implemented in the area to prevent a recurrence of the crime.
The victim was identified as Nicholas Peter Stacey, 34 years old.
According to the police, Stacey and his girlfriend were walking when armed men riding a motorcycle approached them and declared a hold-up.
Citing the statement of Stacey's girlfriend, the police said the back rider alighted from the vehicle and “pointed an unknown type of firearm at the witness and declared a hold-up while the rider parked the motorcycle a few meters away.”
Stacey tried to fight back and grab the robber's gun but was shot on his left chest, killing him.
The suspects took the witness' cellphone and wallet and fled the scene going towards the Pasay area.
The police said one of the suspects was wearing a black shirt and short gray pants with a half-face helmet, while the other wore a black shirt and a pair of red jersey shorts with a face mask but no helmet. They are still determining the identities of the assailants.
Meanwhile, the police said Stacey's body was brought to a funeral home in Taguig City for autopsy.