Couple charged for slay of Pasay traffic enforcer

Noel Lunas of the Pasay City Traffic Management Office died on the spot after being shot on Tuesday afternoon allegedly by Nashro Bagindulo, who fled on foot together with wife Norhinia, abandoning their vehicle. —Photos courtesy of Pasay police

The Pasay City police have filed murder charges against a motorist and his wife for the killing of a traffic enforcer last month. Cairoden Mangundao (alias Nashro Beguindulo) and Norhinia Sema (alias Agua Sema and Rose Sema) have been positively identified as the suspects in the death of Noel Lunas, 46, of the Pasay Traffic and Parking Management Office. On March 22, Mangundao was driving a silver Toyota Innova in Barangay 77, with Sema as his passenger, when another traffic enforcer flagged them down for road obstruction. But the suspect sped off and this prompted Lunas to give chase on his motorbike, until Mangundao shot him dead along Park Avenue. The couple later abandoned vehicle and fled on foot. The case investigator, SPO4 Allan Valdez, said Mangundao owned a .45-caliber Armscor pistol (serial no. 1382947) whose permit expired on Jan. 13, 2016. The couple, who operate an RTW store in Parañaque, have yet to return to their house at Bella Vista Subdivision, Barangay Santiago, in General Trias, Cavite, Valdez told the Inquirer on Friday.—Dexter Cabalza