Cop kills robber in shootout

A vigilant police officer shot dead a suspected holdupper when he chanced upon an ongoing robbery inside a passenger jeepney early yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

PO2 Alberto Dimazana was about to report to his unit at the Caloocan City police mobile patrol division when he noticed a commotion inside a passenger jeepney along Natividad, corner Calle 4 streets at about 8:30 a.m.

Dimazana, using his mobile phone, immediately informed his unit of the robbery in progress, after which he chased one of the fleeing robbers, PO1 Willy de Leon said. While the police officer was about to corner the suspect, the holdupper fired at him several times.

"Bystanders pointed to Dimazana one of the escaping robbers and he ran after the suspect. He was fired at by the suspect but did not hit him," De Leon said.

Not losing his composure, Dimazana, using his 9mm service pistol, fired back at the suspect hitting him once in the head and in the stomach.

"It was Dimazana himself who rushed the wounded suspect to the nearby Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment," De Leon said.

Recovered from the scene of the encounter was the suspect’s caliber .38 revolver loaded with three empty shells and three live bullets.

Police also seized from the suspect’s possession six live bullets for a caliber .38 revolver, a cellular phone and a wristwatch.

Police have yet to establish yesterday the slain robber’s identity. – Pete Laude