5 rob suspects slain in QC shootouts

Five suspected robbers were killed in armed encounters with police officers in Quezon City yesterday.

Three of the fatalities died in an alleged shootout at around 12:50 a.m. in Barangay UP Campus. A report from Chief Inspector Rolando Lorenzo, city hall precinct commander, said around 10 minutes before the encounter, the suspects robbed a 32-year-old man who was waiting for a ride along Commonwealth Avenue.

After the robbers took the victim’s bag, they rode a public utility jeepney headed towards Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Police officers spotted the suspects who were walking along Commonwealth Avenue. They reportedly engaged police officers in a shootout and died at the scene.

One of them was identified as Jonathan Lucente, 36, a resident of Barangay Batasan Hills.

Probers recovered two .45 caliber pistols, one .38 caliber revolver and a backpack containing five mobile phones, a wallet with assorted identi- fication cards and a sachet of shabu from the suspects. The victim’s sling bag containing P700 in cash and his other personal belongings were also retrieved from them.

Two other suspected robbers were killed in another encounter in Barangay Pinyahan at around 2:10 a.m.

Kamuning police station chief Superintendent Pedro Sanchez said policemen on patrol along Matimpiin street were approached by a man whose mouth was wrapped with packaging tape.

The victim, a tricycle driver, told police his vehicle was stolen by two armed men in Barangay Loyola Heights at around 1:25 a.m..

The suspects were spotted in a tricycle along Matimpiin street. Instead of surrendering, the unidentified robbers shot it out with the policemen.

A .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver were recovered from the slain suspects. The tricycle and P20,000 worth of equipment they stole from the victim were also retrieved from them.