Five suspected car thieves slain in Bulacan shootout

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MARILAO, Bulacan — Five heavily-armed suspected members of a carnapping syndicate were killed in a running gun battle with Bulacan policemen and members of the PNP-Highway Patrol Group inside the Heritage Subdivision in Barangay Loma de Gato here early Sunday morning.

Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina said the slain suspects remain unidentified as of press time.

He said that four of the suspects were killed on the spot while the other one died while being brought to the Nazarenus Hospital in nearby Meycauayan City.

Divina disclosed that prior to the firefight, the Highway Patrol Group 3 (HPG3) coordinated with Supt. Rogelio Ramos, chief of the Marilao Municipal Police Station, informing that they were tailing suspected notorious criminals on board a black Nissan X-Trail with plate number XTU-414 and a blue and clack Yamaha Mio without plate number heading towards the direction of Marilao-San Jose Del Monte Road.

“The chief of police of Marilao, Bulacan immediately directed the Sector 4 MPS patrollers to establish a checkpoint at Likod Bisita in Barangay Loma de Gato, Marilao, Bulacan to check on and block the suspects.

Elements of Marilao MPS, while manning the checkpoint, spotted the target vehicles. However, the suspects, upon seeing the established checkpoint, turned right going towards the direction of Heritage Subdivision, Barangay Loma de Gato, Marilao, Bulacan where the members of the HPG3 have established their chokepoint with their blocking force/teams,“ Divina said.

At that instance, Divina said the suspects suddenly fired towards the HPG team, prompting the lawmen to retaliate and an exchange of fire ensued that resulted to death of the four armed suspects.

One of the five suspects was rushed to Nazarenus Hospital in Meycauayan City, Bulacan but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Divina said that a SOCO team from the Bulacan Provincial Crime Laboratory Office (BPCLO) was requested to process the crime scene.

Recovered from the scene of encounter were the following: two caliber .45 pistols; one Ingram sub-machine gun with suppressor (silencer); one KG9 9mm Luger pistol; one fragmentation grenade and two handcuffs.

The recovered pieces of evidence are presently under the custody of BPCLO for examination while the recovered suspected carnapped vehicles – a Nissan X-Trail color black with plate number XTU-414 and Yamaha Mio motorcycle without plate number are temporarily under the custody of Marilao MPS pending further verification.

Divina said that the slain suspects could be members of a notorious carnapping gang that are also engaged in other criminal activities as shown by the high-powered firearms recovered from them.