Carjack suspect, 2 others slain in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - A suspected carjacker and his two companions were killed in an alleged shootout Wednesday with policemen tracking men who reportedly robbed a meat shop in Quezon City Tuesay night.

The carjack suspect, Mike Dicatanungan, was among the men arrested with confessed carjacker Edilberto Marteja in 2010, according to Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega.

Meat shop employee Carol Llanes identified Dicatanungan to be among the three men who robbed the shop, located along Mindanao Avenue. She also identified the two other slain suspects, Delfin Benitez and Daniel Caranto, as the two other alleged robbers.

Llanes told police she took note of the license plate (TXV-788) of the taxi that fetched the three suspects from the shop. She said the suspects took P30,000, including about five kilos of baby back ribs and pork steaks they told her to wrap.

QCPD Station 3 commander Superintendent Michael Macapagal said they traced the owner of the cab, who pointed them to driver Orlando Manuel Jr. QCPD deputy director for operations Senior Superintendent Neri Ilagan said Manuel was arrested at his house in Barangay Apolonio Santos.

Ilagan said they had Manuel contact the three suspects and arrange a meeting in Parkway Village in the same barangay. QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said the three suspects approached the cab and when the policemen introduced themselves, the suspects opened fire, triggering a gunfight.