3 rob suspects slain in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Three suspected robbers were killed in a shootout with police officers along Quezon Boulevard in Manila yesterday.

One of the suspects had tattoos all over his body, the most prominent of which were the words “Claudine” and “Sputnik” on his stomach. He was described as between 30 and 35 years old and at least 5’6” tall.

The second suspect bore a “BCJ Gang” tattoo on his body, indicating he was a member of the Batang City Jail gang. He was placed at between 35 and 40 years old and at least 5’2” tall.

A third suspect was deemed a Commando Gang member, based on his tattoos. He is estimated to be between 30 and 35 years old and at least 5’2” tall.

Investigator said policemen from the MPD Station 3’s anti-crime unit were patrolling the Santa Cruz area when they chanced upon Vanessa Español, a department store cashier, and Tricia Mañalac crying on the street, saying they had been robbed.

Superintendent Ricardo Layug and his men, along with SPO3 Robert Chua and PO2 Glicerio Encela of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, caught up with the suspects along Taft Avenue.

The suspects allegedly chose to shoot it out with the police officers. They died on the spot.

Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun, a .357 caliber handgun and an improvised shotgun along with the bags and cell phones of Español and Mañalac.