SPD: Vehicle yields body, ‘pusher’ placard, ‘shabu’

THE BODY of a man believed to be a victim of summary execution was discovered inside a vehicle whose driver tried to evade a checkpoint in Las Piñas City early Sunday, police said.

Found next to the corpse, whose face and hands were wrapped in packaging tape, were two sachets of “shabu” and a placard identifying the body as that of a drug pusher and a thief, according to the Southern Police District (SPD).

The driver and two passengers of the Toyota Avanza, with license plate TGB 477, were killed after they shot it out with the policemen who were able to corner them along Coastal Road, the SPD said.

The names of the slain male suspects were being withheld at press time pending verification of the identification cards they were carrying, SPD director Senior Supt. Tomas Apolinario Jr. said.

Members of the Las Piñas police were conducting a checkpoint at the corner of Real and Naga Streets in Barangay Pulang Lupa when the vehicle was flagged down about 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, according to the city police chief, Senior Supt. Jemar Modequillo.

The passengers allegedly opened fire as the vehicle fled toward C5 Road Extension.

The authorities gave chase and the vehicle was cornered along Coastal Road, where the shoot-out ensued and resulted in the suspects’ death.

Police recovered a shotgun, a 9-mm pistol, a .38-cal. revolver and a sachet of shabu from the suspects. There were also gloves, a bonnet, knife, packaging tape and rope found in the car. With a report from Radyo Inquirer