7 carjackers killed in Philippine shootouts

Scene of the Crime Operatives and Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit investigators are at the scene where five suspected members of the Lintag car theft and bank robbery group are killed after exchanging gunfire with members of the police along a portion of Congressional Avenue in Quezon City Wednesday morning. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/ INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Police say at least seven suspected carjackers have been killed in two shootouts in Quezon City and Makati City. A police officer and a bystander were also wounded by gunfire.

Head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said that members of the CIDG and the Quezon City Police District shot and killed five suspects believed to be members of the “Lintag” carjacking and bank robbery group along the Congressional Road in Quezon City early Wednesday.

Meanwhile, police killed two alleged car thieves in a separate shootout an open parking area near the Philippine Development Alternative Foundation and the Makati Medical Center at the corner of Tindalo Extension and Buendia Avenue in Makati City

Eight suspects shot it out with policemen who had tried to flag down their brown Toyota Innova (ZDX-875) and black Toyota Fortuner (NFO-492) along Luzon Avenue at around 4:30 AM, said Pagdilao. He added that the suspects, instead of pulling over, shot at the CIDG vehicle before trying to escape.

It was then that the police chased the suspects along Congressional Road where five of the suspects were eventually killed in a shootout, said the CIDG chief. Three others managed to escape, he added.

Authorities recovered were three baby armalite rifles and two caliber .45 pistols from the suspects, Pagdilao said.

Police cordoned off the busy highway, where the shootout happened.

Superintendent Jaime Santos, Makati Police officer in charge, said the second suspect was killed as he tried to escape and hid inside a sewage culvert near the Makati Post Office after his companion was gunned down during the first shootout, which occurred at around 4 a.m.

Two officers were wounded in the shooting and a civilian—an unidentified minor—was hit by a stray bullet and taken to the Ospital ng Makati, police said.

Traffic around the area was heavy as police closed a section of Malugay and other streets in the vicinity as they chased the suspect who tried to escape.

Police said earlier that the two suspects were members of the “Onad Group,” which had been linked to car thefts in Metro Manila.

Police later identified one of the slain men as Dave Garcia while the other was identified only by his alias “Mac-mac,” an alleged member of the Sputnik gang.

The wounded officers were identified as Chief Inspector Joselito Zabares and Police Officer 1 Mudcil Balawag. They were taken to Makati Medical Center for treatment.

Santos said the police have yet to determine if the bullet that hit the boy came from the alleged thieves or the police.

Radio reports earlier said a suspected stolen vehicle had been left on the parking lot since Tuesday morning, prompting police to set up a surveillance operation. The shooting erupted early Wednesday when police accosted two men who approached the vehicle ostensibly to retrieve it. With a report from Associated Presse