6 robbery gang members gunned down
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Six suspected members of a robberyholdup group believed to be operating in Pampanga and other Central Luzon areas were killed in shootouts with Apalit and Bacolor police Thursday dawn, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) said.
Central Luzon director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said that two of the suspects were killed in a clash with policemen shortly after midnight in Barangay Cabetican in Bacolor town.
Prior to the gunfight, two cashiers of Shell gasoline station located in Barangay Sta. Ines reported to Bacolor Municipal Police Station that they were held up by four unidentified armed men, two of whom were onboard a blue Toyota Hi-lux pick-up truck with plate no. XTF628; while the two others, who were wearing black and blue helmets, were onboard a motorcycle similar to Yamaha MIO.
The suspects carted away cash worth more or less ₱5,000 and one Oppo cellular phone, Coronel said.
He said the Bacolor police alerted all PNP units to conduct an operation in Bacolor, Pampanga and nearby city and towns.
The pick-up truck was later intercepted by police while passing Pasig Potrero Dike Access Road in said barangay.
The suspects fired shots at the cops, triggering a shootout which led to the death of the duo, Coronel said.
The slain suspects were identified as Ariel Moguil, resident of Mabalite Tadian, Mountain Province; and Dexter Tinguey, 21, of Bermuda Hills, Brgy. San Carlos, Baguio City.
Recovered from them were a .45-caliber pistol loaded with five live bullets, a .22-caliber revolver loaded with two live bullets and three spent shells, nine spent shells, a metallic fragment, a deformed slug, four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, two cellphones, cash amounting to ₱2,420, and one Oppo cellphone.
Just hours after the incident, police reported that four unidentified suspects onboard a red Toyota Innova (NCF 4091) barged into Alfamart in Barangay San Vicente, Apalit town, and at gunpoint announced a holdup.
They immediately fled after taking all the money at the counter.
A hot pursuit operation was conducted by Apalit police.
The group was cornered on Timoteo Road at Sitio Dudurut-Paligue, Bgy. Colgante, at around 4 a.m..
During the ensuing gunfight, the vehicle’s occupants died on site.
Recovered from the crime scene were two .45-caliber pistols, a 9mm pistol, a Toyota Innova bearing plate number NCF-4091 and an undetermined amount of money.