5 robbers shot dead in police vehicle

Five suspected robbers were killed in an alleged shootout with policemen while they were inside a police vehicle in Jala-Jala town in Rizal province on Saturday, police reports said.

The Jala-Jala police on Monday had yet to release the names of the suspects, saying their families had yet to identify them and claim the bodies from a local morgue.

But Chief Insp. Joseph Macatangay, Jala-Jala police chief, said investigators have information on the group’s suspected leader, although he declined to divulge any detail as follow up operations continue.

The group’s leader and another suspect escaped.

Held at gunpoint

Before the group’s arrest, Macatangay said the suspects attacked and held at gunpoint Flora Oruga, 49, in her house in Barangay Bagumbong at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. Oruga owns a store that sells animal feed.

“The victim said the suspects wanted to buy chicken feed. As she was going through her stock, one of them held her at gunpoint and tied her up,” Macatangay said.

He said the suspects then ransacked the victim’s house and carted away cash, pieces of jewelry, computer laptops and cellular phones.

Two of the suspects fled on a motorcycle, while the rest on a white Toyota Vios (plate number AAJ 8436).

Road block

Police set up a road block near the police station after Oruga reported the robbery and sought help.

“The victim was not able to immediately identify the (color, make and model of the) motorcycle so it must have driven past the police. But those on the car surrendered when they were intercepted,” Macatangay said.

He said all five suspects were asked to board a police patrol vehicle and were guarded by PO2 James Cuenco and PO1 Rowel Sabangan. A policeman drove the vehicle, while another was on the front passenger seat.

But when the police vehicle was about to enter the Jala-Jala police compound, one of the suspects grabbed Cuenco’s service firearm and tried to shoot him. The policeman’s gun, however, was empty.

“Luckily, Cuenco had already taken the bullets out since they were nearing the station already,” Macatangay said.

No handcuffs

He said the suspects were not handcuffed when they were asked to board the police vehicle because the station was only 15 meters away.

Macatangay said Cuenco and one of the suspects grappled for the gun, prompting Sabangan to shoot him and the other suspects.

Four died instantly. The fifth suspect died while being treated at the Ynares Municipal Hospital, also in Jala-Jala.

Macatangay said the group operated in parts of Rizal and Laguna provinces. The leader, who was identified by Oruga on the police gallery of criminal suspects, is facing arrest warrants in Laguna.

Macatangay said they recovered some of the stolen items from the group.

Police also recovered three .38 cal. guns and at least six sachets of suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) from the suspects’ car. Another two sachets of suspected shabu were found tucked in the underwear of one of the suspects.