TMG denies rubout in killing of five suspected car thieves

Police Traffic Management Group (TMG) director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan denied yesterday allegations that the five suspected car thieves slain in a shootout with policemen Monday were victims of a rubout.

"That was not a rubout but a legitimate operation," Pan said.

Pan pointed out that in keeping with their training, TMG operatives did not hit the vehicle used by the suspects during the gunplay with policemen.

"The suspects alighted from their vehicle and had fled on foot," said Pan.

"My men (at the TMG) have undertaken training to prevent a repeat of the Pasig incident. We have a continuing re-training program for TMG members," he said.

Earlier, in November 2005, three suspected car thieves were killed when they shot it out with pursuing operatives of TMG in Pasig City, which the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) claimed was a case of violation of human rights.

Pan explained the re-training program for TMG members was made to prevent violations of the police rules of engagement.

The first violation, Pan said, was when the TMG mistook a businessman for a car thief and wounded him last March 7.

Pan said if any evidence would show that his men committed a rubout, he would not hesitate to file charges against them.

A certain Jocelyn Lanuza, who introduced herself as the wife of slain carjacking suspect Michael Flores Lanuza, claimed over dzMM radio that her husband was kidnapped last Friday before he turned up dead in the supposed shootout Monday.

Lanuza claimed her husband, a tricycle driver in Saluysoy, Meycauayan, Bulacan, was on his way home when several men snatched him late Friday. She claimed her husband’s cell phone could not be reached after the abduction.

Lanuza said she only found out what happened to her husband after learning of the alleged shootout on Monday.

Pan, for his part, said only one of the five slain suspects was identified - Menardo Tuazon, the alleged leader of the group.

"We are waiting for the report of SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) for the identities of the slain suspects. We are relying on the relatives of the suspects to identify them," Pan said.

Pan said they are also checking information that Tuazon had a standing warrant of arrest issued by a Malolos court for his alleged involvement in robbery in the area.

Pan said the slain suspects might have been responsible for many carjacking cases in Metro Manila.

"We believe that this is one of the groups that victimizes motorists. In the guise of being police officers, these car thieves will flag down motorists but when their target pulls over, they will announce their criminal activities," he said.

TMG operatives said they earlier spotted the maroon-silver Toyota Revo near Quezon City Memorial Circle with what appeared to be a mismatched license plate number.

The operatives then radioed TMG’s Vehicle Information Management System, which informed them that the Revo’s license plate VBX-410 actually belonged to a Mitsubishi Crosswind stolen from a certain Frederick Duller of Taguig City in June 2005.

The operatives called for backup and tailed the suspects all the way to Fairview.

After sensing they were being tailed, the suspects reportedly fired at the policemen, triggering a gunplay that killed the five suspects on the spot.

Reports said the Toyota Revo used by the suspects did not even have bullet holes during the shootout. – With Marijoe Yu, Jan Camille Canivel