2 burglars dead after gunfire alerts cops on street patrol in QC

MANILA, Philippines — In their haste to destroy the lock of the house they were targeting, one of three burglars ended up firing his gun in panic, alerting patrolling policemen to the break-in attempt.

Moments later, two of the men lay dead after shooting it out with lawmen before dawn on Tuesday in Barangay (village) Mariana, Quezon City.

Case investigator Police Officer 2 George Caculba described the two slain men as between 25 and 30 years old, of medium build, fair-skinned and 5’4” in height.

One had a “BNG” (Bahala Na Gang) on the back and wore a black shirt and black pants, while the other man sported a “Boyet A” tattoo on the back and wore a brown shirt and black pants.

The third man escaped aboard a blue tricycle in the middle of the firefight, which happened at around 1:45 a.m. on 10th Street.

According to the Galas police station commander, Superintendent Norberto Babagay, the house that the men were eyeing had been burglarized at least twice in the past and that in both instances, the household members were even hogtied.

The police official said the slain suspects could be from another group since family members did not recognize them as the ones who previously robbed them.

The third attack on the household, however failed, as the burglars’ bolt cutter could not destroy the metal lock of the gate located along the sidewalk.

“One of them apparently got nervous and accidentally fired his gun. The bullet then hit a glass window of the house,” Babagay said. At that time, the Damian family was fast asleep.

The police official noted that one of the burglars might have become too frustrated that he fired his gun to destroy the metal lock.

By a stroke of luck, patrolling operatives were on the next block and heard the single gunfire, prompting them to go to the Damian house on 10th Street.

Upon seeing the policemen, the three suspects ran towards their blue tricycle, firing shots as they fled.

Babagay said his men were forced to fire back, killing two of the men on the spot.

Recovered from the slain suspects were two caliber .38 guns and the bolt cutter allegedly used in the botched break-in.