2 rob suspects killed in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Two still unidentified robbery suspects were killed in an alleged shootout with mobile police early yesterday in Quezon City.

Police described the first suspect as 25 to 30 years old, medium-built, fair-skinned, with straight hair and wearing an orange shirt and denim pants.

The second suspect was about 30 to 35 years old, slim, fair-complexioned with “Oseph Matira” tattooed on his shoulder.

Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered a brown ladies’ bag containing P2,000 cash, identification cards and ladies’ accessories, an MK2 hand grenade from the first suspect and a .38 caliber revolver from the second suspect. 

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano Jr, homicide investigation chief, said the suspects were killed after engaging  members of the Motorcycle Anti-Street Crime Operatives (MASCO) led by Senior Inspector Wilfredo Laureta then on patrol at around 1:25 am yesterday along Kilyawan street corner EDSA in San Roque, Barangay Pag-asa.

Records showed victim Leonida Vire, 48, resident of Sinagtala street, Barangay Bahay Toro was waiting for her bus ride home when a man with a grenade and another with a handgun accosted her and demanded to surrender her shoulder bag. Vire readily gave her bag to the suspects to get out of harm’s way. The duo fled with the loot. Vire shouted for help as soon as the two turned their wheels to flee catching the attention of the roving officers who gave chase.

Over the public address system, the lawmen told the suspects to stop and surrender peacefully. One of the suspects fired at their pursuers prompting the police officers to fire back hitting them fatally.

Vire recovered her cash in the bag and positively identified the slain suspects as those who robbed her earlier.