MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Four suspected members of a notorious kidnap-for-ransom group were killed when they allegedly shot it out with policemen before dawn Wednesday, police officials said.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas, chief of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, said the four suspects were on board a green Toyota Revo with plate number ZFW-363 when they were flagged down by policemen at the corner of Roosevelt and Quezon Avenues at around 2:45 a.m.

Policemen from the HPG and the Quezon City Police District Anti-Carnapping Unit (QCPD-ANCAR) flagged down the allegedly suspicious vehicle but instead of stopping at the checkpoint, the suspects reportedly fled.

Police immediately chased the suspects, whose vehicle, upon reaching the Quezon Avenue underpass, hit its wall, forcing the vehicle to stop.

The suspects then alighted and allegedly shot it out with policemen. The incident left three of the four suspects dead while another was seriously wounded.

Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula, QCPD chief, identified the three suspects as Emelito Comia, Rex Mirafuente, and Joel Esguerra, all residents of Quezon City.

Police have yet to identify another suspect, who was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival, Mabutas said.

Recovered from the crime scene were one caliber .45 Colt pistol, one caliber .45 Ithaca pistol, one caliber 9-millimeter, one Daewoo caliber 9-mm, two mobile phones, a bag, and the vehicle.

Gatdula said the suspects belonged to a big time kidnap-for-ransom syndicate while investigators were also looking at the involvement of the suspects in several car theft incidents.