Two suspected robbers killed in shootout with cops in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY — Two suspected robbers were killed in a shootout with policemen on Monday night in Manaoag town in Pangasinan province, just a stone’s throw away from the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag Church, police said.

Ramon Lavigan, ranked as the fifth most wanted person in neighboring Mapandan town, and his unidentified companion, were killed in the gunfight with policemen who were manning a checkpoint in Barangay (village) Poblacion at 6:05 p.m., according to Chief Insp. Dave Mahilum, Manaoag police chief.

Lavigan was earlier spotted driving a motorcycle by agents of the Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, who coordinated with the Manaoag police.

But before they could intercept Lavigan and his companion who were bound for Mapandan, the two suspects allegedly robbed a delivery truck at the town’s Coastal Road, an interior road parallel to the Bued River.

They fled toward the Mapandan-Manaoag Road and fired at the policemen manning the checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion, according to Mahilum. /ee