MANILA, Philippines - Five suspected robbers of fighting cocks were killed in separate shootouts with Rizal town policemen on Sunday.
Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, Rizal police director, said a manhunt for the suspects, who allegedly robbed three cockfighting farms, was launched several months ago.
Anduyan said he ordered Superintendent Samuel Delorino, Tanay police chief, to put up checkpoints after receiving a tip that the suspects, on board a white Mitsubishi Adventure and a black motorcycle, were spotted in the area.
The two vehicles turned around and sped off as they approached a police checkpoint along Manila East Road in Barangay Tandang Kutyo.
As the Mitsubishi Adventure rammed into the police barricade, the suspects fled on foot and fired at pursuing policemen.
Meanwhile in Morong town, two men on a motorcycle were killed when they allegedly engaged police, who pulled them over at a checkpoint, to a gunfight.
Anduyan said the suspects were reportedly on their way to rob a fighting cock farm in Tanay.