2 die, 1 hurt as cops battle band of robbers

LAGAWE, Ifugao — Police operatives engaged three of the six-man gang, suspected of robbing last Friday (Aug. 31) a Land Bank vehicle of P8 million, in a gunfight here during an overnight manhunt operation yesterday.

The encounter in Barangay Nayon in neighboring Lamut town here resulted in the killing of two persons and the capture of their companion.

Chief Inspector Mario Buyuccan, the provincial intelligence officer, identified the fatalities as Pilotin Canato and Noel Cacliong of Hingyon town while their gangmate Bryan Ballogan was taken to a nearby hospital for minor gunshot wounds.

Only P2.2 million of the P8 million police payroll money was recovered from the suspects. — Charlie Lagasca