The encounter led to the rescue of the driver and a helper of a 10-wheeler truck containing 450 sacks of yellow corn worth about P350,000, which the suspects had hijacked.
Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Varilla, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police director, said the regional TMO operatives were on their way to investigate the hijacking in Padre Garcia when a wayward 10-wheeler truck overtook their vehicle along the provincial road leading to San Antonio, Quezon at about 1:30 a.m.
This prompted the TMO team to chase the truck for verification.
But as the TMO operatives approached the truck, the suspects reportedly fired at them, prompting them to return fire.
One of the slain hijackers was identified as Roderick Matanguihan, an alleged member of the "Hiwatig gang" responsible for hijackings in Bauan and Padre Garcia towns. The second remains unidentified. — With Arnell Ozaeta and Ed Amoroso