Makati road chase set off by concealed bike plate; 1 dead

They were not wearing helmets and their motorbike’s license plate was covered.

These were the red flags which police said set them off on a 30-minute road chase that led to the death of a crime suspect out on bail and the wounding of his companion before dawn Friday in Makati City.

Although shots were fired, suspect John Marte Susaya, 20, died while his companion Ronnel Uno, 18, remained in critical condition from injuries sustained when their bike crashed into a truck, according to Makati police chief Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban.

Investigators learned after Susaya’s death that he had just been released from police custody in Parañaque City where he was facing charges for frustrated murder.

Lukban said it all started when members of Substation 2 in Barangay Palanan tried to flag down two men on a motorbike who were passing through Dian Street around 5 a.m. without helmets on and with the bike’s license plate covered.

But the riders didn’t stop and instead sped off toward Zobel Roxas Street upon seeing the police. An alert was sent out until teams from different Makati police units—including four intelligence officers on bikes— joined the search for the tandem.

The intelligence officers later spotted the suspects on South Superhighway near the Magallanes flyover.

Lukban said one of the suspects fired at SPO2 Donnie Tidang, one of the officers in pursuit. Tidang was not hit but he fell from his motorbike and  suffered minor injuries.

Lukban said the chase ended when the suspects’ motorcycle crashed into an oncoming container truck.

Susaya and Uno were rushed by the police to Ospital ng Makati, where Susaya was declared dead on arrival. Niña P. Calleja