7 alleged robbery gang members killed in Batangas shootout

Police surround the van that seven alleged members of “Baklas Bubong” robbery group had used. The still unidentified suspects were killed in a shootout with police in Batangas. Photo by Batangas police

SAN PEDRO CITY — Seven alleged members of a robbery group were killed in a police shootout in Agoncillo town in Batangas province early Monday.

Police have yet to identify the suspects but said they were members of the “Baklas Bubong” robbery group that was initially reported as responsible for attacking feed mills in Batangas.

Batangas police chief Sr. Supt. Edwin Quilates, in a phone interview, said the shootout happened around 4:45 a.m. in Barangay (village) Banyaga.

The suspects were onboard a white van with plate number TIH 344.

Quilates said police sent out an alert after the group’s vehicle earlier refused to stop at a  checkpoint in the adjacent Laurel town.

He said the Agoncillo police ordered a road lockdown but the van, identified by its blue led lights, sped past them too, prompting a chase.

Police said van passengers started to shoot until they were flanked by another police team a few meters away.

All passengers were killed instantly.

Police recovered five guns, among them a rifle, from the suspects. They also found an electric grinder and cutting tools inside the vehicle. /kga