2 motorcycle thieves nabbed after gunfight with Manila cops

Two motorcycle thieves have been arrested shortly after a shootout with policemen in Sampaloc, Manila, authorities reported Thursday.

The Manila Police District-Sampaloc Station’s report said Argelle Evans Cunanan, 26, of Sta. Cruz, Manila, and Orlando Ignacio, 32, of Tondo, Manila breached a checkpoint and engaged police in a gun fight Wednesday afternoon.

Police said they received a tip that the suspects, who have previously stolen a motorcycle, were within their area of responsibility. This prompted them to set up a checkpoint called Oplan Sita.

According to police, Cunanan and Ignacio were aboard a motorcycle without a license plate and approaching the checkpoint when they suddenly sped past law enforcers while also firing at them.

A chase and gunfight ensued until police caught up with the suspects along Laong Laan corner A. Mendoza Streets. One of them was injured and brought to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for treatment while the other was taken to the police station for investigation.

Police recovered from the suspects one .38 caliber revolver with fired ammunitions, two improvised picklocks, a hammer, a pair of pliers, an allen wrench, and two sachets of suspected shabu.

The suspects will be facing charges for assaulting persons of authority, and violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 as well as Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition. Gabriel Pabico Lalu              /kga