Cops gun down 2 suspected kidnappers in Antipolo encounter

MANILA, Philippines — Two suspected members of a of a kidnap for ransom group were shot dead in an encounter with the police  in Antipolo, Rizal Thursday morning, the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) reported.

The PNP-AKG said Antipolo city police officers and the AKG’s Luzon Field Unit were manning a checkpoint along Marcos Highway in Sitio Painuman, Barangay Inarawan when they spotted two armed men  aboard a motorcycle without a license plate at around 5:40 a.m.

The suspects tried to slip past the checkpoint and allegedly fired at the lawmen, who returned fire.

The suspects were killed on the spot.

Recovered from the scene of the encounter were a .45 caliber pistol, an Uzi sub-machine gun, and spent shells.

The fatalities, said to be members of the “Mokong” kidnap for ransom group, were only identified as “Kelly” and “Roy,” PNP-AKG said.

Prior to the encounter, the PNP-AKG said it set up the checkpoint after receiving a tip from an informant regarding the movement of the suspects.

The  “Mokong” group, police said, is involved in gun-running, robbery, kidnap-for-ransom, and illegal drugs in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

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