3 suspected robbers killed in Parañaque shootout

MANILA, Philippines—Three alleged members of the “Waray-Waray” robbery gang, including a policeman, were killed in a shootout with operatives on Saturday night in a middle-class subdivision in Parañaque City.

Suspects Rowell Masudog of Tanza, Cavite, and Melvin Nadilgas of Fourth Estate Subdivision, Sucat, Parañaque, were killed in a gun battle with policemen who responded to the gang’s reported presence in the subdivision. A third suspect, identified by the police as Police Officer 3 Ulpiano Bulido Jr., was declared dead on arrival at 9:15 p.m. at the Parañaque Medical Center.

A fourth member of the gang, Martin Ty, 24, of Moonwalk, Parañaque City, survived the ordeal. He will be charged with robbery and holdup, according to Parañaque Police Chief Senior Superintendent Nestor Pastoral.

“Nadilgas and his men have previous records of robbery. Ty won’t talk yet, but he has a lot of explaining to do,” Pastoral said.

Initial investigation showed that Chief Inspector Allan Umipig of the Southern Police District was tipped off at 8 a.m. Saturday that a blue Nissan Sentra sedan with plate number TRM-897 was seen roaming inside the Fourth Estate Subdivision with two Yamaha Neo motorcycles with plate number 7244-TS and one with a defaced plate.

“One motorcycle had a dilapidated plate; it’s usually a sign that the driver doesn’t want to be identified,” said the SPD spokesperson, Chief Inspector Jenny Tecson.

Tecson said that SPD sent a team to verify the report and exchanged gunfire when the suspects began firing at the sight of the operatives.

“The whole thing was finished in 10 minutes,” said Parañaque police chief Pastoral.

Robbery victim Willy Sta. Romana, 33, of Fuentebella Street, Fourth Estate Subdivision, Sucat, Parañaque City, recovered his P85,000 cash, 14 pieces of .38-cal. pistols used by his security agency, and assorted cell phones from guests who were attending a party in the victim’s house.

A .22 magnum, .38-cal. pistol and .45-cal. pistol were also recovered from the suspects.

Pastoral quoted Sta. Romana, the owner of Praise Security and Investigation Agency located at the subdivision, that the money was for the salary of some of his security guard employees.

Pastoral reminded subdivision owners to tighten their security measures, especially with the limited number of police.

“Private subdivisions should be stricter in their entry and exit points. I wonder how the suspects were able to sneak into the compound in the first place,” Pastoral said.