CEBU, Philippines - Two suspected robbers were killed while their alleged cohort was injured in a shootout with the police along Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City yesterday dawn.
Motorcycle-for-hire drivers Dean Marl Rivera alias “Sadam” of Casili, Mandaue City, a certain “Jay-ar,” and Joseph Cueva, 26, reportedly tried to evade a checkpoint, prompting police to give a chase.
Rivera and Jay-ar died in the succeeding encounter while Cueva, who drove a separate motorcycle, sustained a knee injury.
Personnel from San Nicolas Police Station were reportedly conducting a checkpoint near Asian College of Technology along P. del Rosario Street when the three men, who were onboard two motorcycles, were spotted making a U-turn, apparently trying to evade the checkpoint.
Unknown to them, elements of City Intelligence Branch were also patrolling the area and were driving next to their motorcycles.
Seeing the three trying to escape, the CIB operatives followed and chased them. Upon reaching sitio Jai Alai in Barangay Mambaling, Cueva reportedly fired his gun.
The police returned fire and hit Cueva to his left knee.
Rivera and Jay-ar sped towards South Road Properties while the CIB, together with the Motorcycle Response Unit, continued chasing them.
Upon reaching SRP, Rivera and Jay-ar reportedly shot at the policemen, prompting the latter to return fire.
The two men died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds. Their remains were brought to St. Francis Funeral Homes.
The police recovered a cal. 38 revolver and a cal. 22 Magnum revolver from the assailants. Five empty shells, a helmet, a key, a violet shirt, an orange shirt, P30 cash, $1 bill, a cellular phone, and a driver’s license were also recovered from the crime scene and from the two men.
Authorities further recovered a master key believed to be used in carnapping, a black bonnet, a red sweatshirt, two keys with chain, a sparkplug elbow, a birth certificate of Cueva, and an arm protector.
Jay-ar was wearing multiple shirts, said Senior Police Officer 1 Ruth Violango of the Homicide Section.
Cueva was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center and was later detained at the Cebu City Police Office stockade.
The three were subjected to paraffin tests.
CCPO director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana said they are eyeing the possibility that the three suspects were involved in the recent robbery incidents involving gas stations.
CIB deputy chief for operations Inspector Gomersendo Mandaue said that their counterparts in Mandaue City confirmed that Rivera and Jay-ar both have previous criminal records and were held responsible for small-time robberies in Mandaue.
“There are indications that they would rob by dawn. They are ready, kita naman natin na patong-patong iyong damit nila. Marami silang identities,” Romana said.
Cueva denied police allegation that he was out to stage a robbery. His live-in partner claimed that he told her that he would be out looking for passengers. — (FREEMAN)