Injured	Killed
0	2

Date: 26 March 2013
Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/metro/47419-cops-kill-5-thieves-in-2-shootouts

PATROLLING policemen shot dead five suspected armed thieves in separate gunbattles in Quezon City and Laguna early morning yesterday. All dead men sported caliber .38 revolvers and used tricycles as their getaway vehicles after robbing their targets until they were cornered by officers, officials said.

In QC, two still unidentified men armed with .38 revolvers were killed in a gunfight with patrolling personnel of the Q.C. Police District Station 11 along Balete Street at 1:45 a.m. yesterday, said a report to National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Leonardo A. Espina.

QCPD director, Senior Superintendent Richard Albano, said the QCPD Station 11 operatives were conducting anti-criminality patrol in the area when they heard a gunshot from nearby 4th St. prompting them to investigate.

They later chanced upon a group of men on board a dark blue tricycle without plate number whose occupants suddenly jumped off from the 3-wheeled vehicle after spotting the marked police vehicle. Two of the suspects opened fire at the lawmen who promptly retaliated killing both on the spot.

The driver of the tricycle managed to escape and is still being hunted.

The policemen under Supt. Norberto Babagay recovered a bolt-cutter and two  loaded .38 revolvers from the slain suspects’ possession. It turned out that the suspects had just robbed house no. 156 at 10th St. corner Balete St. in Barangay Mariana owned by siblings Carmelita and Jose Damian.

One of the suspects reportedly fired a shot in the air while escaping, thus attracting the attention of the QCPD Station 11 operatives.

In Binan, Laguna, three armed suspected thieves were killed in a shootout with local policemen under Supt. Simnar Gran in Bgy. Antonio 3 a.m. yesterday, said a report to Police Regional Office 4-A director, Chief Supt. Benito Estipona.

Laguna Police Provincial Office director, Senior Supt. Pascual Munoz said the Binan Municipal Police Station launched a dragnet after receiving a report regarding a  group of thieves escaping on board a tricycle in Bgy. San Antonio.

The Biñan policemen were accosting the suspects in the area when they were fired upon. The officers fired back killing the three identified as Danilo Pertez, Jacob Maningas and Jaypee Villanueva instantly.

Three cal. .38 revolvers and a bag containing an undetermined amount of cash, cell phone, DVDs and t-shirts were recovered at the scene. Scene-of-the-crime-operations (SOCO) operatives from the local Crime Laboratory conducted an investigation in both incidents.

The shootouts erupted as Philippine National Police chief, Director General Alan LM Purisima placed all police forces in Luzon and Visayas under heightened alert status as part of their Holy Week security measures. The other police forces in Mindanao and the elite Special Action Force remained on full alert.

Gen. Purisima ordered stepped-up 24/7 visibility patrols to help protect the public and their homes as the country marks the Lenten season.