Robbers pick wrong victim; 1 killed

One of two suspected robbers was killed before noon of Friday in a shoot-out with Manila policemen after they robbed a ranking police official of the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) of his gold necklace.

Senior Supt. Christopher Tambungan, chief of the 10th Police Center for Aviation Security of the Philippine National Police Avsegroup based in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, initially traded shots with the suspects before reinforcements from the Manila Police District (MPD) arrived.

After a brief car chase through the Sta. Cruz area, police caught up with the suspected robbers.

In the ensuing shoot-out, one of the robbers sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body. But his cohort managed to escape.

The wounded suspect, aged between 30 and 35 years old, five-foot-six tall, of medium build, and bore several tattoos, was declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital.

PO2 Jupiter Tajonera, of the MPD homicide section, said the incident happened at around 11 a.m., Friday, along Bambang Street in Sta. Cruz while Tambungan and his 44-year-old wife, who is a doctor, were shopping for medical equipment.

Tajonera revealed that the two motorcycle-riding robbers approached the couple from behind, poked a handgun at them and declared the heist. The suspects then grabbed Tambungan’s gold necklace worth P20,000.

Police said this prompted Tambungan to pull out his caliber .45 pistol and traded shots with the suspects. A mobile patrol from the Alvarez police outpost heard the gunshots and rushed to the area.

Tajonera pointed out that the suspects spotted the police patrol car and sped away. A chase ensued which ended at the corner of P. Guevarra and Antipolo Streets where the suspects were cornered.