3 rob suspects killed in Quezon City shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Three unidentified men, cornered after a brief car chase in a stolen taxicab, were killed after engaging police officers in a shootout shortly after robbing a cabbie of his earnings early yesterday in Quezon City.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego said the suspects shoved cabbie Joel Villona, 40, out of the taxi after taking his P1,900 earnings along Road 1 in Project 6.

The suspects then took over the wheel of the white NRG cab (TXR-985) Villona was driving and sped away. The taxicab was later recovered and is in under the custody of the police.

Reports showed the shootout happened at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday along Congressional Avenue in Barangay Bahay Toro.

Villona told investigators he was cruising towards North Avenue when a man flagged him down and asked to be taken to Tandang Sora Avenue.

On Road 1 in Project 6, two other men suddenly appeared, robbed him at gunpoint and took his taxi.

Villona said a concerned citizen brought him to the Masambong police station, where he reported the robbery.

Police officers patrolling Visayas Avenue, led by Senior Inspector Chito Macaspac, spotted the suspects in the taxi. They gave chase after the suspects ignored attempts to flag them down.

Minutes later, the taxi slammed into a tree at the center island along Congressional Avenue, forcing the suspects to flee on foot. The suspects started firing at the pursuing lawmen, triggering a shootout. The outnumbered suspects were shot dead within minutes.

Recovered from the crime scene were a12-gauge shotgun, a .357 caliber revolver and a .38 caliber revolver, all improvised. Police also found Villona’s wallet and papers from the back pocket of one of the suspects’ short pants.

The first suspect was described as about 30 to 35 years old, 5’2” tall, with the word “GUPPREYNA” tattooed on his back.

The second one was also about 30 to 35 years old, about 5’5” tall and has “SPUTNIK” and other tattooes all over his body.

The third was about 25 to 30 years old, about 5’2” tall, and has a tattoo on his chest.