2 motorbike-riding rob suspects slain in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Two motorcycle-riding suspected robbers were killed in an alleged shootout with policemen in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday morning.

The still unidentified men were described as in their early 30s. One man had the word “Enan” tattooed on his back, while the other bore three tattoos: “Alona Abanal” on his chest, “chaka” on his left shoulder and “Rey Morales/Commando” on his back. Both were armed with .38 caliber revolvers, police said.

According to reports, a woman was waiting for a ride along España Boulevard when the suspects stopped in front of her, grabbed her shoulder bag and sped away. The woman sought help from roving patrols of the Sampaloc police station.

Police set up a dragnet and blocked the escaping suspects at the corner of P. Campa and Andalucia streets in Sampaloc.

The leader of the police team, Senior Inspector Rolando Lorenzo, ordered the suspects to surrender peacefully, but the suspects reportedly shot at the lawmen. When the shootout ended, the two suspects were dead, still gripping their guns.

Police recovered the victim’s shoulder bag from one of the slain suspects. A Yamaha Mio motorcycle without license plates reportedly used by the suspects was impounded by the police.