2 rob suspects slain in QC shootout

MANILA, Philippines -  Two suspected robbers who were driving around an exclusive village in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City were killed in a shootout with police officers yesterday morning.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 6 commander, Superintendent Ronnie Montejo, said the encounter happened at around 5:30 a.m. in the BF Homes Subdivision.

One of the suspects has been identified as one of those who robbed the house of ABS-CBN reporter Jay Ruiz in the Mapayapa II Subdivision last week, based on images captured by a closed-circuit television camera.

Montejo said his men responded to a call from village security guards because of a red Toyota Innova van bearing license plate number TKI-245, which was roaming around the village premises.

When police officers tried to approach the suspects as their vehicle was parked at the corner of F. Ventura and Sindikato streets near a vacant lot in the subdivision, the suspects allegedly shot at the lawmen, prompting the QCPD operatives to fire back.

Investigators are trying to verify with the Land Transportation Office if the van recovered from the suspects had been stolen.

Police also retrieved a stolen bicycle from the slain suspects, whose other companions escaped during the firefight.

One of the suspects believed to be among those who broke into in Ruiz’s house was wearing a black polo and black pants. Ruiz said he lost laptops, cellular phones, wallets and other valuables in the burglary, which happened while he and his family were asleep.