MANILA, Philippines – A former police officer and an accomplice allegedly involved in the abduction of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officials were killed in a shootout with the police while trying to elude arrest in Kawit, Cavite on Monday.
Operatives from the Philippine National Police – Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) were tailing the motorcycle of the suspects and were about to serve a warrant of arrest for robbery with homicide at around 2:30 a.m.
The suspects, former Cpl. Arlan Ranera Aguilar and his unidentified cohort, reportedly sped off after sensing that they were being followed.
A brief chase ended along Abaya Road in Barangay Toclong, where the suspects were cornered.
The suspects, police said, opened fire instead of yielding peacefully.
They were killed on the spot by police officers who were forced to shoot back.
The slain suspects are alleged members of the “Gapos Gang” involved in the abduction of several BIR officers.
Police added that Aguilar is also one of the suspects in the killing of former Insurance Commissioner Eduardo Malinis in 2014.
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Recovered from the scene of the encounter were two .45 caliber pistols.
Aside from the PNP-AKG, elements from the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon), Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cavite police and Kawit police joined the operation. /gsg