Robbery gang leader killed in Rizal

Police gunned down a woman leader of a robbery group, wounded her companion and arrested another during a ten-minute shootout yesterday in Angono, Rizal.

Senior Superintendent Leocadio Santiago, Rizal PNP provincial director, said that robbery gang leader Cleofe Veronque, 33, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot.

Her companion, Robert Abala, 24, was wounded and was brought to the Angono General Hospital.

Another gang member, Renato Canete, 38, escaped unscathed but surrendered to police authorities later.

Santiago said elements of the Angono PNP and the Rizal Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) erected a checkpoint along Manila East Road in Barangay San Isidro amid reports that a robbery group would pass the area before pulling off a robbery job.

At about 11:45 a.m. yesterday, a maroon Daihatsu and green Mitsubishi Lancer, with license plates ITH- 860 and PME-412, respectively, were seen approaching the checkpoint. A shootout ensued after the suspects on board the vehicles reportedly fired at the lawmen. — Non Alquitran