4 robbery suspects killed in clash with police

STO. DOMINGO, Nueva Ecija—Four suspected robbers were killed in a gunfight with police in Barangay Burgos here on Wednesday.

Police said the four slain suspects robbed passengers of a Metro Manila-bound bus in Barangay Malasin here and also took the earnings of three burger stands in the area.

Chief Insp. Eric de Venancio, town police chief, said the suspects were aboard two motorcycles and were armed with handguns. Investigators have yet to identify them.

De Venancio said policemen chased the suspects after they received a call from a passenger of the Baliwag Transit bus at 4 a.m.

Albert Viloria, the bus conductor, said he was loading bags of some passengers along a road in Barangay Malasin when one of the suspects approached him and at gunpoint, announced a holdup. Another suspect poked a gun at the driver.

De Venancio said the group took at least P14,000 from the bus passengers and an undetermined amount from the burger stands.

He said policemen caught up with the group in Barangay Burgos, where the gunfight started.