MANILA, Philippines ? Three suspected robbers onboard a van, which was reportedly stolen, engaged Makati City policemen in a shootout early Friday morning in Pasay City.

Police Officer 3 Ricky Corpuz of the Makati police said that Police Officer 2 Armand Galit, Senior Police Officer 1 Vilmer Miralles and PO2 Christopher Arbeleda, after a brief car chase which started in nearby Magallanes area, engaged the unidentified armed men in a shootout at 3 a.m. at the corner of Tolentino and Aurora streets in Pasay City.

Corpuz said that around 2:45 a.m., the policemen flagged down the white LiteAce van at Lapu-Lapu St. in Magallanes as the vehicle?s license plate ULJ-782 had been reported stolen.

Instead of stopping, he said, the van sped away and a car chase ensued. The chase ended in Pasay City when the police shot at one of the van?s tires.

Corpuz said the three men shot it out with the policemen then abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.

Police said they lost sight of the three when they ran in different directions into dark alleys around the vicinity.

Recovered from the van were items which, according to police, included stolen belongings from one Phoebe Gene Pallisto, 28, who was victimized by hold-uppers while on her way to the airport for her flight to the US early Friday morning.

Pallisto and four other passengers were onboard a jeepney at around 2 a.m. Friday on Sucat Road, Parañaque City when three men stopped the vehicle and declared a robbery.

Corpuz said Pallisto?s black traveling bag ? which she declared contained P2,450 and $50 in cash, an Acer laptop, passport, cellphone, ATM cards and other personal effects ? were found in the van.