2 holdup suspects slain in shootout

Two suspected holdup men were killed while a third was seriously wounded in a brief shootout with the police Tuesday night in Quezon City.

The three suspects remain unidentified although both fatalities had the initials "BNG" tattooed on their backs. One of them was described to be between 20 to 25 years old, 5’4", of medium built, with "JP" tattooed on his left shoulder.

The other was said to be between 25 to 30 years old, 5’3", and also medium built. Their surviving cohort, who is now undergoing treatment at the Quezon City General Hospital, was described to be in his early 20s, 5’5", also medium built.

Police said the suspects attempted to rob taxi driver Celedonio Caimen, 42.

Caimen, of 51 Sitio San Isidro, Barangay Pag-Asa, was driving his white Reyselle Jon taxi cab (PVS-145) along Quezon Avenue near the National Children’s Hospital at around 6 p.m. when the suspects flagged him down. They told Caimen to drive them to Fairview and as the driver made a U-turn, one of the suspects announced the holdup.

The quick thinking Caimen, however, immediately switched on the hazard lights as a distress signal, catching the attention of an unidentified male bystander who approached the taxi cab. But Caimen told police that as the man walked towards them, one of the suspects shot him but missed. The terrified man scampered away and the suspects alighted from the cab to escape.

However, they were chanced upon by Central Police District-Station 3 (Baler) operatives led by Chief Superintendent Allanigan who were on a surveillance mission. The responding policemen were met by a volley of gunfire from the suspects, prompting them to return fire. The shootout ended after the suspects lay bleeding inside the taxi cab. Caimen escaped unharmed.

The policemen themselves brought the suspects to the hospital where two of them were pronounced dead on arrival. The bodies of the fatalities were brought to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory for autopsy.