Alleged motorcycle thieves die in shootout with QC cops

Two men were gunned down reportedly after fighting it out with responding policemen following a motorcycle theft incident in Quezon City Tuesday night.

Police Senior Insp. Rodent Albano, of the Quezon City Police District Special Operation Unit, identified one of the suspects as Emmanuel Melugrito, while his companion remains unidentified as of this posting.

Albano said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM that the shootout happened minutes after the suspects took the motorcycle of one Alejandro Dapadap at about 10:45 p.m., who was eating at a fast food chain at the Welcome Rotonda.

Dapadap sought the assistance of the QCPD, which alerted its men conducting checkpoints within the area.

Albano said the police stopped Melugrito and his companion along 11th Road corner Harmony Street in Quezon City while onboard the motorcycle they took from the victim.

Even before being accosted at the checkpoint, the suspects sped away and one of them eventually pulled out a handgun and fired shots at the pursuing policemen.

“Kumaripas sila, kumanan po sila, at ang masaklap pa diyan, bumunot at nagpaputok sa tropa natin,” he said.

(They sped away, turned right, and worse, pulled out a gun and shot at our men.)

Albano added that part of the suspects’ modus was to conduct robbery-hold up operations using stolen motorcycles as their get-away vehicle.

Recovered from the suspects were a caliber .38, and a bag that contains female belongings. /jpv