3 Kuratong men slain in shootout

Three suspected members of the notorious Kuratong Baleleng kidnapping-robbery gang were killed while five of their alleged companions were arrested in an early morning police operation in Cainta, Rizal yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Leo Santiago, Rizal police director, identified the fatalities as Rey Verano, Jose Aldrin Capundag and a certain Ariel.

Santiago reported to Camp Crame that the three suspects fired at his men who were to serve warrants of arrest issued by Antipolo City Regional Trial Court Judge Francisco Querubin.

Five of the suspects’ alleged companions were cornered after a brief chase. They were identified as Franklin Mesiquita, 27; Samuel Danisil, 28; Bernie Salvador, 38; Edelito Ugay, 50; and Maximo Elnido, 48.

Santiago said his men seized an M-16 rifle, a Baby Armalite, a caliber .45 pistol and a caliber .38 revolver after the firefight in Sitio San Francisco, Manggahan, Cainta.

He said they are still investigating whether the suspects were involved in the recent heist in the Citibank branch in Makati City.

Police said the suspects were involved in the killing of two policemen and four civilians in an eatery-videoke bar in Taytay town last Sept. 12, the armored van holdup near the Sta. Lucia Mall in Cainta, a bank heist in Bacoor, Cavite and another robbery at Bahay Kawayan in Rizal. — With Non Alquitran<