2 motorcycle theft suspects killed in shootout with cops in North Cotabato

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KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, Philippines — Two suspected motorcycle thieves were killed when they engaged policemen in a shootout in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

Superintendent Jordain Maribojo, Kabacan police chief, identified the slain suspects on Tuesday, as Ismael Lucas and Blah Bacan Balabagan, both of Barangay (village) Kilangan in Pagalungan, Magunidanao.

Maribojo said by phone the suspects had tried to seize two motorcycles in Barangay Katidtuan early Monday but the motorcycle drivers had eluded them and reported the robbery attempt to the police.

Maribojo said responding policemen and members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) in Katidtuan were fired at by the suspects prompting them to return fire.

They killed Lucas and Balabagan and also recovered two caliber .45 pistols and a fragmentation grenade, he said.

Maribojo said the killing of the two suspects was the latest in the string of operations aimed at motorcycle thieves.

To date, he said that 15 suspected motorcycle thieves had been arrested and had been charged.

“They are now languishing in jail. We will not stop until we will get the mastermind to end the rampant cases of motorcycle seizure and theft in our town,” Maribojo said.