3 'Teardrops Gang' members shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - Three members of a robbery gang who were reportedly on a robbing spree were killed in an alleged shootout with policemen in Sta. Ana, Manila yesterday.

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay said the suspects were members of the “Teardrops Gang,” a group linked to a series of robberies in Sta. Ana. The gang members sport teardrop tattoos near the outer corner of their eye.

Magtibay said that at around 3 a.m. four gang members robbed two women at gunpoint just as the victims stepped out of a convenience store along Pedro Gil street.

After taking the victims’ money and cellular phones, the four suspects flagged down a Bestway taxicab (TXC-539). After a short distance, one of the suspects pistol-whipped driver Elvin Sabrido on the head, took his P1,000 earnings and dragged him out of the vehicle. The four then drove away with the stolen taxicab.

The wounded driver reported the incident to the Sta. Ana police station.The police teams spotted the stolen taxicab along Suter street.

Three suspects, described as between 20 and 35 years old, were killed when they got out of the taxicab and shot it out with lawmen. Police recovered three .38 caliber revolvers near the bodies.

A cellular phone and P4,112.50 cash, identified by the two female victims as theirs, were also recovered from the pocket of one of the suspects. Police believe the fourth suspect escaped and took the cab driver’s P1,000 with him.

Barangay officials identified the slain suspects as known robbers and said the three men had been on their watch list.