4 suspected robbers killed in Nueva Ecija shootout identified

MANILA, Philippines—Four suspected robbers were killed in an encounter with police in Nueva Ecija on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said.

They were identified as Daryl Germino, Jeric Ace de la Cruz, Raymund de la Cruz and Mandy Villa, all residents of Maliolio, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, and who were believed to be members of the robbery hold-up group Petinez.

The incident happened around 4 a.m. after the slain suspects, who rode in two motorcycles, allegedly held up a Baliwag Transit bus with plate number CBS 472 bound for Manila along Sagaba-Baloc Provincial Road in Burgos village, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija, Cruz said.

Police said the four men had also taken the earnings of three burger stands in the area.

Chief Inspector Eric de Venancio, Sto. Domingo police chief, said policemen chased the alleged robbers after they received a call from a passenger of the Baliwag Transit bus.

Albert Viloria, the bus conductor, said he was loading the bags of some passengers on a road in Barangay (village) Malasin when one of the men approached him and, at gunpoint, announced a holdup. Another man 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 ensued.

One .45-cal. pistol with magazine, two .38-cal. revolver, a hand grenade, two motorcycle plates without numbers, a helmet and a bag containing victims money and cellular phones were recovered, Cruz said.