2 rob suspects slain in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines - Police officers killed two motorcycle-riding men after they reportedly robbed two Indian moneylenders in Malabon City before noon yesterday.

Chief Inspector Bong Sta. Teresa, Malabon City police investigation chief, identified the slain suspects as Danilo Maglinto, 37, a resident of Tondo, Manila; and Noel Cabacang, 39, of Navotas City.

Maglinto, who yielded a homemade shotgun, died on the spot from a gunshot wound in the body while Cabacang succumbed to a bullet wound in the head as he was undergoing treatment at the Malabon community hospital, Sta. Teresa said.

Sta. Teresa said Cabacang has two standing warrants of arrest for robbery in Malabon.

According to Sta. Teresa, traders Jiwan Singh and Javier Pal Singh were robbed by three armed men on a motorcycle along Maya-Maya street in Barangay Longos at around 11 a.m.

The robbers fled with the victims’ motorcycle and more than P5,000 but they were stopped by the police at a checkpoint. Instead of heeding the police officers, the robbers reportedly shot at the lawmen, triggering a shootout.

Maglinto was killed while Cabacang was arrested. Their other companion was able to escape.

Sta. Teresa said that Cabacang volunteered to lead the police to their lair somewhere in the middle of a fishpond in Barangay Dampalit. Sta. Teresa and intelligence head Chief Inspector Carlos Dilag led two teams who accompanied Cabacang.

But as they got out of the police car, Cabacang reportedly grabbed the handgun of Dilag, prompting one of the policemen to shoot the suspect once in the head.