Suspected thief shot dead in Biñan

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Policemen shot dead a robber and wounded his companions in an encounter, minutes after they robbed an Indian trader in Barangay Francisco, Biñan, Saturday afternoon, report said.

Police Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, Highway Patrol Group 4A director, said the suspect Jay-Ar Bernabe, a member of the Tunasan robbery gang, was gunned down when he shot it out with operatives of the HPG 4A group led by Senior Inspector Peter Ng Dionisio. Gunnacao said the wounded, Dante Dombase and his cohort Melvin Almoroso, escaped from the 15- minute gunfight.

He said his men were conducting Oplan ‘Sita’ when they received a report that there was an ongoing shootout between Biñan cop PO3 Eduardo Ompacan against three men riding in tandem after they robbed an Indian trader Gaurav Sandra, 26, of Mercado Village in Barangay San Lorenzo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

According to Dionisio, Ompacan called up his station for backup and immediately alarmed all police units to conduct a blocking force on possible exits by the fleeing robbers. After a few minutes, HPG4 operatives spotted them along Juan Village in Barangay San Francisco. HPG4A men chased the suspects and tried to flag them down, but one of the suspects opened fire.

The suspects sensed they were outnumbered prompting Almoroso and Dombase to escape leaving behind their wounded buddy.

Recovered from the encounter site were a .45 caliber pistol and three deformed slugs, one .38 caliber and one Nokia cellphone. – Ed Amoroso