4 gun-for-hire suspects killed in shootout with QC cops

MANILA — Four men who are allegedly members of a gun-for-hire group died in a shootout with policemen in Quezon City, early Sunday morning.

The four suspects were killed after they fired at policemen, who were following them based on a tip from an informant that they were out to conduct an operation, around Cubao.

One of the suspects was identified through his ID as Recto Piadozo of Talavera, Nueva Ecija. His companions, however, remained unidentified, as of this posting.

The case investigator, PO3 Marlon dela Vega of the Quezon City Police District’s (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said that the informant told the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame that the suspects who would carry out the  operation were supposedly equipped with high-powered firearms and ready to engage with authorities.

Dela Vega said that while the suspects, who were aboard a white Honda Accord (UHS 888), were traveling along Aurora Boulevard in Cubao at around 3:15 a.m., they noticed that they were being followed. He added that this prompted the suspects to speed up and a brief chase ensued.

The suspects later fired shots at the pursuing policemen from the CIDG, Special Operations Group of the Highway Patrol Group and the QCPD’s Tactical Operation Center. At that point, Dela Vega said that the lawmen returned fire, and  the suspects eventually stopped at the corner of Katipunan Avenue and Aurora Boulevard in Barangay Loyola Heights.

Three of the suspects immediately died from the multiple gunshot wounds they sustained in different parts of their bodies. The fourth suspect was brought to Quezon Memorial Medical Center but died an hour later.

Dela Vega said that the scene of the crime operatives recovered inside the suspects’ car—which was reportedly a carnapped vehicle—two .45-caliber pistols, a 9mm pistol, fan knife and a hand grenade. Thirty pieces of fired bullets were also recovered from the crime scene.

Police said that the group was behind the killing of taxi driver Alberto Labasbas in Valenzuela City, last month.  SFM