Eight suspected robbers killed in shootout

N E W S B R I E F S

02/09/2010

Police yesterday shot dead eight armed men believed to be members of a robbery gang after they tried to burst through a checkpoint in Quezon province, authorities said.

“Eight armed men riding in a van did not yield at a (police) checkpoint and rammed it. After that, the police manning the checkpoint opened fire,” provincial police chief Senior Supt. Elmo Sarona said.

Sarona said the incident happened in Candelaria town, 80 kilometers southeast of Manila.

The gunmen also shot at police, but no officers were injured, he added.

Police identified four of the slain suspects as Wilbert Mauricio, of Las Piñas City; Roger Bailan, of Cainta town, Rizal province; Jojo Salazar, of Quezon City; and Samuel Reonico, also of Quezon City.

Police investigators seized from the dead suspects’ vehicle four handguns, a rifle, a grenade and other personal things and fake car licenses; 16 cheques containing a total amount of P755,350.20, all paid to the order of YHJ Philippines Corp., and P3,680 cash.

A verification made with the Land Transportation Office found out that the license plate of the white Toyota Hiace van used by the suspects was registered to a Toyota Hilux utility vehicle owned by a resident of Mabalacat town, Pampanga province that was stolen last Jan. 26 in the same town.

Police were checking to see if the armed men were part of a robbery gang, Sarona said. Gina P. Elorde and AFP

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