4 hijackers killed in Laguna

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Philippines — Four suspected hijackers transporting stolen goods were killed in an alleged shootout with the police in San Pedro, Laguna early Wednesday.

Only two of the suspects were identified as Joseph Alipio (age unknown) and Alberto Cahandig Jr., 37, both from Taguig City.

Superintendent Kirby Kraft, San Pedro police chief, said the four robbers were onboard two vehicles — a delivery truck (RJK 787) that carried 192 units of flat screen LCD television worth P1 million; and an Isuzu Crosswind (XFJ 165) — when they encountered a group of policemen at around 3:45 a.m. along the Victoria road in Barangay (village) San Antonio.

“We were informed about the stolen truck, so we set up a choke point in that area. The suspects fired [first] at one of our [police] mobiles,” Kraft said.

The suspects died of multiple gunshot wounds in the body during the firefight, police said.

“We are not discounting the possibility that they have other companions who might have escaped, although we already checked and cleared the vicinity,” said Kraft.

Kraft said the truck was supposed to deliver the television units from an industrial park in Cavite to Manila when hijacked by the suspects along Centennial Road in Kawit town, Cavite around 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The suspects tied up the truck driver and his helper and left them at a vacant lot in Barangay Kaong in Silang town.

The victims sought help from the Cavite police.

Authorities recovered the stolen items, an M16 rifle, a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition from the scene of the encounter.

For the full report, listen to Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

First posted 9:18 am | Wednesday, November 9th, 2011