6 ‘Bagets Bonnet’ gang members meet bloody end

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite — Six men were killed in an alleged shootout with law enforcers after robbing a convenience store in front of the De La Salle University here before dawn yesterday.

Police identified four of the six slain suspects as Sandy San Diego, alleged leader of the so-called "Bagets Bonnet" gang, and his henchmen Mar Bulatao, Alex Basbas and Ningning de la Cruz.

The two others were merely identified as a certain "Kalabaw" and Mando.

The "Bagets Bonnet" gang gained notoriety for having young members, aged 20 to late-20s, who wore ski masks when pulling off highway robberies. It was involved in car thefts.

Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang, Calabarzon police director, told reporters at the scene that members of "Task Force Thoroughfare" chased the suspects who instead of yielding, shot it out with the policemen.

Found in the suspects’ possession were an Armalite rifle, five caliber .38 revolvers and a handgrenade.

Police said the slain suspects commandeered an FX van with license plate UUW 591 and driven by Santiago Marquez in Barangay Anabu in Imus town at about 10:30 p.m. last Friday.

The group blindfolded Marquez, took his shoes and dumped him in General Trias town, some eight kilometers from this municipality.

Marquez, however, was able to inform police about the incident. Police acted promptly by putting up checkpoints in strategic areas throughout the province.

At about 3:30 a.m., police were informed that a robbery was in progress at a 7-11 outlet in Barangay Sta. Isabel here.

The robbers disarmed the convenience store’s security guard, took the cash from the cashier and carted away bottles of wine and junk foods.

Policemen chased them from a checkpoint in Barangay Salitran and cornered them along Paliparan Road 2, Senior Superintendent Roberto Rosales said.

Local folk told police they frequently saw the suspects roaming around markets and school zones, among other public places, in this town.