4 carjack suspects slain in Caloocan shootout

MANILA, Philippines -  At least four of five suspected carjackers were killed in a shootout with police at a random checkpoint in Caloocan City at past midnight yesterday.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Wilson Santos said two of the slain suspects died on the spot while two others were taken to the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center where they were later declared dead on arrival. The suspects sustained multiple gunshot wounds bullets fired from M-16 assault rifles and .45 caliber pistols. A fifth man escaped during the shooting.

One of the slain suspects, Michael Casiguran, 34, a resident of Bagong Nayon, Quezon City, was identified through an identification card found in his pocket.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) chief Superintendent Filemon Porciuncula said they recovered three .38 caliber revolvers, a 9mm pistol, empty shells and slugs from the crime scene.

SPO2 Joel Montebon of the Station Investigation and Detective Management Branch (SIDMB) said they received a call from the Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) of the Caloocan police saying that five suspicious-looking men were seen in a white taxi cruising along A. Mabini street in Maypajo at around 12:24 a.m.

Anti-Carnapping Unit (ANCAR) chief Senior Inspector Allan Emlano said he and his men, together with the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, put up a checkpoint to intercept the suspects.

Minutes later, the police spotted the suspects on board a white Se7ven taxi (TYU-560) at the corner of 12th Avenue and Biglang Awa street at the common boundary of Barangays 96 and 97.

Emlano flagged down the taxi but instead of stopping, the suspects sped toward the officers while firing their guns. This prompted the police officers to fire back, killing two suspects on the spot.

Santos said that, upon verification with the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the taxi used by the suspects was stolen in Quezon City. The vehicle is registered to a businessman in Marikina City.

Police sources said they have yet to determine if the group has any links with the Dominguez carjacking group.

Santos said the results of their initial investigation shows that the slain suspects – reportedly residents of Antipolo City, Rizal – have no direct links with the Dominguez group and the two groups’ signatures do not match.

“These men… prey on taxicabs, even to the point of killing the drivers, while the Dominguez group steals only high-end vehicles,” he told The STAR.