3 alleged motorcycle thieves killed in Batangas shootout

SAN PEDRO CITY, Philippines -Three men who allegedly stole a motorcycle were killed in a shootout with police officers in Malvar, Batangas early Saturday.

A report from the Batangas police said the shootout happened around 2:15 a.m. in Barangay (village) Poblacion. The slain suspects who were aboard the stolen motorcycle and another motorbike were identified as Mario Molino, an alias “Tito,” and an alias “Junior.”

About an hour earlier before the shootout,  police said the victim, Maynard Garcia, reported that his motorcycle had been stolen.

Police alerted another team then manning a road checkpoint who later spotted the suspects with the stolen motorcycle.

According to police, the officers at the checkpoint then tried to stop the suspects who then opened fire. The suspects were killed after the officers returned fire, police said.

Taken from the suspects were a caliber .45 pistol and  a caliber .38 pistol.

Last week, police said seven suspected robbers were also killed in a shootout after their vehicle rammed a police checkpoint in Agoncillo, Batangas. /muf