8 kidnap suspects killed in Quezon

CANDELARIA, Quezon , Philippines  – Eight armed men believed to be members of a robbery-kidnapping gang were killed in a shootout at a police checkpoint in Candelaria town in Quezon province early yesterday morning.

Senior Superintendent Francis Elmo Sarona, Quezon police director, identified four of the eight suspects as Roger Baylon of Cainta, Rizal; Jojo Salazar of Magsaysay, Quezon City; Samuel Lunico of Rosario, Albay; and Gilbert Mauricio of Las Piñas City.

Sarona said the suspects were traversing the Maharlika Highway on board a Toyota Hi-Ace van from Manila to Lucena when they were flagged down at a checkpoint manned by elements of the 415th Mobile Group headquarters of the Philippine National Police at Sitio Taguan, Barangay Bukal Sur in Candelaria around 5:15 a.m.

Instead of yielding, the suspects rammed the checkpoint’s barricade, triggering a running gun battle that lasted for about 15 minutes.

Police neutralized the suspects upon reaching the next checkpoint a few meters away.

Police recovered a Carbine rifle, a 9-mm pistol, three caliber .45 pistols, a caliber .38 revolver, an M-203 grenade launcher, a jungle bolo, checks amounting to P800,000, several pieces of clothing, one pair of fake LTO plates, and several units of mobile phones.

One of the checks, amounting to P228,000, was paid to YHJ Phil. Corp. Police are now conducting follow-up investigation to establish the group’s identity and the extent of their operations.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) verified that the plate number ZDM-912 attached to the suspects’ vehicle was fake. Police said the van turned out to be a stolen vehicle.

“We believe that the group was an organized kidnap and robbery gang. Apparently, they were targeting a pawnshop in Quezon or were about to hit some businessmen when they were intercepted,” said Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Rolando Añonuevo. - Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso, Cecille Suerte Felipe