2 men slain in Caloocan over loot

MANILA, Philippines - Two men were shot dead in Caloocan Monday night, reportedly after robbing a woman and arguing over the division of the loot.

Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante said police officers found Victor Magat and Eric Bautista bleeding in a safehouse in Phase 1, Barangay Bagong Silang at past 10 p.m.

He said the place is a haven for robbers and pickpockets and the two were alleged members of a gang operating in Bagong Silang.

The two reportedly robbed Janice Santos at around 10 p.m. and the gang met up at the safehouse a few minutes later to divide the loot. Magat and Bustamante reportedly shot it out following a disagreement over the division of the loot.

However, a neighbor of the victims denied that the two were robbers and claimed a policeman was behind the shooting. The wife of one of the victims also denied that her husband was a robber.

Investigators said they will invite Santos to see if the slain men were the same ones who robbed her.

They recovered six mobile phones and at least 10 bullet shells from the crime scene.