Camp Olivas, Pampanga—Six alleged members of a robbery gang believed operating in Pampanga and other areas in Central Luzon were gunned down by the police following a running gunbattle in separate places in Apalit and Bacolor towns at dawn Thursday.
Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office, said all the slain suspects have yet to be identified, as police investigators found no identification on them.
Fajardo said four of the suspects barged inside the Alfamart convenience store at Barangay San Vicente in Apalit town and at gunpoint announced a hold-up. They fled after scooping the money stashed at the cashiers' booth.
The suspects, Fajardo said, were on board a red Toyota Innova (plate number NCF 409) when spotted by lawmen heading towards Macabebe town. The group was cornered along Timoteo Road, Sitio Dudurut-Paligue at Barangay Colgante past 4 a.m.
Fajardo said the suspects fired at the policemen, prompting the lawmen to retaliate, instantly killing all the occupants of the Innova.
Over in Bacolor town, two suspected robbery hold-up suspects were felled by the police after a pursuit that ended at the Barangay Cabetican section of the mega dike access road past midnight Thursday.
Police Major Louie Gonzaga, Bacolor police chief, said the suspects were positively identified by witnesses as the same group who robbed a refilling station at Barangay Sta. Ines, Bacolor town Wednesday midnight.
The suspects, Gonzaga said, were on board a blue Toyota Hilux (plate number XTS-628) as they tried to avoid a police checkpoint, prompting the policemen to give chase.
Sensing they were being tailed, the suspects fired at the policemen, hitting the mobile car. An exchange of gunfire ensued, killing the two Hilux occupants on the spot.
Police recovered five handguns including three caliber .45s, a .9mm pistol, and a .22-caliber revolver in both anti-criminality operations.