3 holdup men killed

Three robbers were killed while two others were arrested when alert members of the police foiled a holdup try by six armed men on a plastics factory in Valenzuela City yesterday afternoon.

Valenzuela City police chief Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Urena said two of the fatalities were killed on the spot while another one died at the Valenzuela District Hospital.

Probers could not yet determine if the name "Reynaldo dela Cruz" written on a piece of paper found in the wallet of one of the fatalities was his name.

Police recovered three wallets containing the names of Bernardo Cuebangon, Fabon Edilberto and Teresito Muralla. Also recovered were a Magnum .357 revolver, a grenade, a caliber .38 homemade gun and a fan knife.

SPO2 Olegario Piamonte, Velenzuela Block 2 commander, said SPO1 Lazaro Paulo, PO2 Miguel Capangyarihan and PO1s Hoover Ireneo, Doliton Gatdula, Ronald Zaldivar, engaged the armed men in a shootout before they could carry out their planned robbery.

Ireneo said they were doing traffic management chores when bystanders cried out to them that a holdup was taking place at the Ramos Plastics Manufacturing Company at 5037 Gen. T. De Leon Road, Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City at around 4:30 yesterday afternoon.

Rudy Ramos, 50, the factory owner, later told police that one of the six suspects first entered the factory posing as a customer and was later followed by two others who announced the holdup.

Ramos said no other persons in the firm was hurt and that the robbery suspects were not able to take anything.

Witnesses told probers that prior to the holdup, the suspects were seen alighting from an FX taxi van.

Northern Police District Office (NPDO) director Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol commended Ureña and his men for stopping the robbery.

Police sources said the feat by the Block 2 policemen merits "on the spot" promotions which Querol said he was considering.