Cop kills 2 bus robbers on NLEX

MANILA, Philippines – A police officer shot dead two of three men who tried to rob passengers of a provincial bus along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Caloocan City Sunday night.

At least 40 passengers were on the Del Carmen bus (AIA-9766) heading for Bocaue, Bulacan when the armed suspects declared the heist shortly before 11 p.m. near the Balintawak toll plaza, Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, head of the Caloocan police investigation and detection unit, said.

Mendoza said two of the suspects pointed their guns at the passengers while another started divesting the victims of their cash and valuables.

Police Officer 2 Ryan Cabansag, 31, detailed at Camp Crame, was among the passengers along with his wife and their two-year-old child when the robbery occurred.

Cabansag took out his service firearm and shot it out with the suspects, killing two of them on the spot.

Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante said they have yet to identify the slain suspects, described to be between 20 and 32 years old.

A third suspect managed to jump off the bus during the gunfight.

A passenger, Maricor de la Gracia, was hit in the arm in the exchange of gunfire and was eventually released from the hospital after receiving treatment.

Members of the Valenzuela police, led by Inspector Wilflez Mesina, assisted Cabansag when the bus stopped at the Malinta toll plaza.

“Cabansag displayed courage. He put his life and that of his family on the line, not to mention the passengers, when he opted to engage the robbers in a firefight,” Bustamante said.

Bustamante said he would recommend the spot promotion of Cabansag for his bravery.