Meanwhile, police arrested an alleged carnap and robbery gang leader in Bustos, Bulacan.

HPG director Chief Supt. Leonardo A. Espina identified the slain car thief as Edwin B. Madrigal, 39.

Espina said the suspect is the acknowledged leader of the Madrigal Group which is affiliated with the notorious Dominguez Group. He said he has ordered a stepped-up hunt for Roger Dominguez who is wanted for carnapping with homicide.

“These car thieves are notorious for stealing at gunpoint high-end motor vehicles in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon ,” he said.

Members of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 3 under Senior Supt. Edgardo Tinio spotted Madrigal driving a Toyota RAV4 (ZHH 917) in Barangay Wawa, Valenzuela City past 9 a.m.

The RPHU agents led by Chief Insp. Joel Ana tailed the suspect up to Barangay Malajacan, Meycauayan City where he bumped a cement cargo truck while speeding to escape.

The suspect alighted and clashed with the officers who hit him. He died while being taken to the Sta. Clara de Montefalco Hospital.

Espina said the suspect was positively identified as among the men who stole the Toyota Vios of Susan Dulalia in Barangay Malhacan, Meycauyan City and the Isuzu D-Max of Tomas Canlas in Sitio Gugu, Barangay San Vicente, Bacolor, Pampanga. A loaded 40 semi-automatic pistol was recovered from the suspect.

Police also captured the alleged leader of a notorious carnapping gang.

Bulacan acting police director Senior Supt. Fernando Villanueva said Arnold Balagtas, 42, of Barangay Bisal-San Pedro, Candaba, Pampanga, was arrested by Bustos policemen at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion while driving a red Suzuki Raider motorcycle.

The suspect yielded a homemade .38 revolver  with nine live bullets and assorted ID cards.

Villanueva said Balagtas is the alleged leader of the dreaded  “Balagtas robbery hold-up and carnapping group.” 

Emil G. Gamos, Manny Balbin & Alfred Dalizon