Rob gang boss, 2 cohorts slain in Marikina shootout

MANILA, Philippines - The leader of a robbery group and his two cohorts said to be responsible for the spate of robberies in eastern Metro Manila were killed in an alleged encounter with policemen in Marikina City Tuesday night.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said Phillip Bautista and his unidentified companions, who were riding in two motorcycles, drove past a police checkpoint along East Drive in Barangay Fortune and opened fire at pursuing policemen, triggering a shootout.

The three suspects died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds, Laurel said.

Recovered from them were two caliber .38 revolvers, a caliber .45 automatic pistol, a black Yamaha Smash (8597-WO), a Yamaha Mio without license plate, a mobile phone, two padlocks and five SIM cards.

Responding Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered several spent shells and slugs from the seized firearms and M-16 Armalite rifles in the encounter site.

Superintendent Remus Medina, EPD intelligence chief, said Bautista and his gang were responsible for robbing passengers of FX taxis plying the Makati City, Marikina and Rizal town routes.

Medina said three members of the group were arrested last week while about to stage a heist in Marikina City.

The gang members identified as Frederick Naval, 32, Nepthalie dela Rosa, 38, and Jonathan Arguelles, 29, were nabbed by a police team headed by Marikina police chief Superintendent Earl Castillo.

They yielded two handguns, a hand grenade and a fan knife.

Medina said the trio admitted during interrogation that Bautista and their cohorts were planning to stage a robbery in Barangay Parang Tuesday night.

The EPD chief then ordered the setting up of police checkpoints in several parts of the city while Medina positioned his men in Barangay Marikina Heights.

At about 11:40 p.m., policemen manning the checkpoint along East Drive in Barangay Fortune spotted the motorcycle-riding suspects and flag them down.

Instead of stopping, the suspects stepped on the gas, prompting policemen to give chase.

When cornered, the suspects shot at the policemen, who retaliated, killing Bautista and his two companions.