2 rob suspects killed in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected robbers were shot dead in an alleged encounter with police officers in Caloocan City Wednesday night, an official said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, city police investigation chief, said one of the slain men, Bartolome Yabut, 40, was being tried in local courts for carjacking, robbery and illegal gun possession. His body was identified by his brother, Mario, while the other slain suspect is still unidentified.

Soriano said that at around 9 p.m., Teresita Rimas, 56, and Catherine Pragas, 29, were robbed by at least six men on three motorcycles in Bagong Barrio. The victims immediately sought police assistance after the incident.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos formed a team headed by Soriano and Senior Inspector Gaylord Tamayo to hunt down the robbers.

At around 11:45 p.m., two men on a red motorcycle were flagged down by police officers at a checkpoint at the corner of P. Sevilla and Cordero streets on 9th Avenue but the men ignored the police officers and sped on. The police officers chased the men, who shot at the patrol vehicle. In the ensuing shootout, the gunmen were killed.

Recovered from the slain suspects were two .38 caliber revolvers and some of Rimas’ and Pragas’ belongings, including their two cell phones. Also seized was the suspects’ motorcycle (4386-UD).

At the police station yesterday, trader Santokh Singh, 36, said robbers took his motorcycle last April 19. – Pete Laude, Jerry Botial