Robbery suspect dies during encounter with QC cops

A robbery suspect died after engaging in a shootout with police officers from Batasan police station in Quezon City on Jan. 7. /QCPD PIO

MANILA, Philippines — A robbery suspect died after a shootout with police in Quezon City early Tuesday morning, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) reported.

Initial investigation showed that members of Batasan police were conducting anti-criminality and surveillance operation along Barangay Payatas B when they spotted two men riding in tandem allegedly in the act of robbing money from a bank teller, who was on board a tricycle.

Law enforcers were approaching the suspects when the latter opened fire, prompting the police to retaliate.

One of the suspects, wearing a shirt and bearing tattoos on his chest and arm, was wounded in the fire exchange. The still unidentified suspect was brought to East Avenue Medical Center, where he later on died from his wounds.

Lt. Col. Romulus Gadaoni, station commander of Batasan police, said that based on the tattoos found in the suspect’s body, he is believed to be a member of Sputnik gang.

His accomplice, who is also unidentified, managed to elude arrest.

Police said the QCPD-Criminal and Detection Unit is undertaking further investigation to identify the suspects.