3 alleged motorcycle thieves killed in Rizal, Laguna

SAN PEDRO CITY-Three suspected motorcycle thieves were killed in separate shootouts with the police in Rizal and Laguna provinces, reports from the regional police office said.

In Laguna, police have yet to identify two suspects who died in a shootout at around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday in Barangay (village) San Antonio, Biñan City.

Initial police report said police officers responded to a call about an alleged theft of a motorcycle in the adjacent Barangay Canlalay at around 3 a.m. Police officers then tracked down the suspects who instead of yielding, began firing at the police officers.

The lawmen then returned fire, triggering a firefight that left the two unidentified suspects dead. Recovered from the suspects were a red motorcycle which is believed to have been stolen and two revolvers.

Meanwhile In Antipolo City, Rizal, another unidentified man died in an encounter with the police around midnight on Saturday in Barangay Sta. Cruz.

A report from the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (Calabarzon) police headquarters said that prior to the encounter, Renato Sablaya, 63 went to the Antipolo City police and reported that two men had attempted to take his motorcycle at gunpoint in Barangay dela Paz.

Sablaya told police that the suspects even fired at him but missed, enabling him to drive away on his motorcycle and seek help.

Responding police officers then tracked down the suspects who immediately opened fire, hitting the police car. The officers then returned fire, killing one of the still unidentified suspects. The other suspect got away, police said.

Seized from the suspect was a motorcycle, a .38 caliber revolver, and a pouch that contained six sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth). /muf