3 holdup suspects slain in Ecija

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija, Philippines  – Three suspected members of a robbery-holdup gang were killed in a shootout with police here Tuesday night shortly after robbing a cell phone repair and computer shop at the public market, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Pedro Soliba, city police chief, said the slain suspects, alleged gang leader Richard Rodillas and cohorts Jeffrey Ruz and Arnulfo Dural, declared a holdup just as computer shop owner Roderick Apino and his father-in-law, Nelson Rodriguez, were about to close for the day.

As the suspects fled with cash, cell phones and other valuables, Rodriguez shouted for help, catching the attention of a patrolling policeman who fired at them and alerted his colleagues.